Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is being chased down by David Benavidez, but there’s a chance the fight doesn’t even happen in 2024.
The undisputed super-middleweight champion intends, as he usually does, to fight in May and September of next year. The man most fans want to see him in with is Benavidez – the WBC’s mandatory challenger fresh off a stoppage win over previously undefeated Demetrius Andrade.
That bout is rumoured for September, and it’s been reported that, in May, Canelo will face either Jaime Munguía, Jermall Charlo – after defeating his twin brother Jermell in his last outing – or Terence Crawford.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Canelo confirmed the dates but said that no opponents have been discussed yet – something he was planning to change this week.
“Right now my dates are May and September. Those are the dates that I always look to fight. This Monday I’m gonna have a meeting and see what’s next.”
“There’s nobody on the table just now. Honestly, I’ve been doing other things. Handling my businesses, travelling with my wife, so I don’t know where those names came from.”
On the topic of Benavidez, Canelo first waved off his countryman’s suggestion that he should vacate his belt if the fight wasn’t made before saying that September was possible but he may have to continue to wait.
“Look, a lot of things can be said, but, at the end of the day, I’m the king and I can do what I want.”
“We’ll see. Like I’ve said, always, I’m here to make the good fights. If that’s a good fight for September, or he has to wait a little bit, we’ll see. At the end of the day, sometimes the fights are bigger when you have to wait a little bit.”
It won’t be welcome news for Benavidez nor his fans, who believe the fight should have already happened. Responding to suggestions that he was avoiding the match-up, Canelo countered with his resume.
“Yeah, it always happens. Lara, Trout, Mayweather, Cotto, Golovkin, Jacobs. Everyone. [They said] I didn’t want to fight with Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders. At the end of the day I beat them. Practically all of them. Now if I beat Benavidez they’re gonna say why don’t you face another guy? Look at my history, I’ve done everything in boxing.”
With PBC now partnered with Amazon Prime, fans can mark their diaries for May and September regardless of the opponents.