By Dan Ambrose: WBC interim super middleweight champion David Benavidez’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz says he met with Canelo Alvarez’s longtime trainer Eddy Reynoso, who also doubles as his manager, and he’ll be sending an official offer next week for a Canelo-Benaviez fight in September.
Whether Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs) agrees to the offer to fight Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) will depend on if he’s ready to give up on his hopeless goal of avenging his loss to WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
Canelo, 32, said after his recent victory over John Ryder on May 6th that he wants Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) next, but he wants the rematch at 175.
From how Canelo looked against Ryder, he’s not talented enough to beat Bivol in the rematch or, for that matter, Benavidez or David Morrell Jr. With Benavidez and Morrell, Canelo needs to try and beat them if he wants to hold onto his ‘Face of Boxing’ spot.
Bivol has repeatedly said that it’s not interesting for him to fight Canelo t 175 again because he already easily beat him. Instead, Bivol wants to fight for Canelo’s four super middleweight belts to become the undisputed champion.
“I had the pleasure and honor of sharing a meeting with CANELO TEAM and Luis De Cuba Jr. for the Unified Champion Match @Canelo
where next week, I will send him an official offer for him to analyze and make a decision on his future Challenger. @wbcmoro,” said Sampson Lewkowicz on Twitter about his intention of sending Canelo Alvarez’s team an offer for a September fight against David Benavidez.
“I think the only fighter we can talk about is David Benavidez. That’s the next fight,” said Chris Algieri to ProBox TV about who Canelo Alvarez should fight next.
“I’ve been screaming from rooftops for months now that if we don’t see Canelo-Benavidez in September, fans will be angry. You never know with him. That’s a great match-up for Canelo.
“We were angling that way with the Caleb Plant – Benavidez match-up, which we just saw. I think Benavidez was fantastic that night. I think Canelo’s best shot of beating Benavidez is sooner than later. It might already be too late. In my book, that’s the fight to be made,” said Algieri.
“I do agree that it’s got to be Benavidez. There’s got to be title defenses for this belt,” said Paulie Malignaggi. “Not only that. If it’s not going to be Benavidez, it better not be someone even John Ryder would have beaten.
“It’s got to be someone on the level of Benavidez, and it’s got to be someone that he [Canelo] defends his undisputed title that is a major threat. John Ryder was a respectable opponent, but it was at home [in Mexico] and set up for you to win, and you did what you had to do.
“Benavidez showed some flaws in the Caleb Plant fight, and now you’re starting to wonder, ‘Maybe Canelo can take advantage of this.’ It’s not a guaranteed win for either guy. It’s the kind of fight you want your top guy to fight.
“If Canelo is the start of the sport, fighting this kind of guy with all the titles on the line and it’s an even match-up, you like,” said Malignaggi.
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