Eddie Hearn has urged David Benavidez to fight someone significant in the super-middleweight division if he hopes to face Canelo Alvarez in the future.
Benavidez thrashed David Lemieux in three rounds at the weekend maintaining his unbeaten record and solidifying his high ranking with the WBC (1) and WBC (2).
The Arizonian will likely have to wait until 2023 to land a shot at Canelo, the undisputed 168lbs champion, after it was confirmed yesterday that the Mexican would be fighting Gennadiy Golovkin on September 17.
Hearn, who currently promotes Canelo, gave his thoughts on Benavidez’ latest win and more during an appearance on The DAZN Boxing Show.
“David Benavidez is a very good fighter and David Lemieux is completely shot to pieces,” he said.
“We’ve seen that in his last couple of fights. He’s been on the floor against journeymen. The fight told me nothing at all because I know how good David Benavidez is.”
Hearn says for a potential fight against Canelo to happen that to happen Benavidez should take on another top contender first.
“I think the Canelo-Benavidez fight is a very big fight,” he began.
“Personally, to make that fight get bigger and bigger I’d like to see him fight one real fight. Just one and that would be against Caleb Plant or [Jermall] Charlo. They’re two brilliant fights and in-house [PBC] fights. For me, Plant against Benavidez is the one.
“These guys who are chasing Canelo Alvarez, chasing that payday, chasing that shot at excellence, just give themselves a much better chance of getting that shot if they win a big fight because the fight becomes bigger. Canelo (then) respects him more (if he won). He wants to take on a challenge as well.”
“For anyone to think Canelo Alvarez wouldn’t want to fight anyone is the most ridiculous thing going. But that would be a really big fight. Let’s make it bigger. We know it’s not going to happen in September, so Benavidez is going to fight again. Let’s actually put him in a real fight.”
Hearn then took the opportunity to have a pop at Premier Boxing Champions for ‘holding back’ the 25-year-old.
“He’s dying for a real fight. He’s a star, he’s a big name, I don’t know why they want to hold him back and not put him in a big fight.”