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“I Offer to You $150 to $200 Million”: Canelo Alvarez Denies to Make Any Offer for David Benavidez Fight, Reveals the Only Condition to Face Him

Published 03/19/2024, 8:39 PM EDT

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Despite Canelo Alvarez having a fight on the horizon, the lingering embers of past matchups that once captivated fans refuse to fade. They continue to ignite conversation and intrigue. In May, at the T-Mobile Arena, he will fight Jaime Munguia in a title defense. However, as it appears, the shadow of David Benavidez still looms large.

Months following his emphatic win over Jermell Charlo, he saw incessant talks over his potential opponent. As the WBC mandatory challenger, ‘The Mexican Monster’ made the strongest case. There were others in line as well. But the Benavidez fight remained the persistent fan favorite. As time passed, it became increasingly clear that a fight with the interim super middleweight champion may not happen. Then the list was shortened to only the names of Edgar Berlanga, Jermall Charlo, and Jaime Munguia. Meanwhile, Benavidez, knowing that the Canelo fight was a lost cause, made the jump to the super-heavyweight division to face Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC interim title. Nonetheless, facing the David Benavidez question once again while speaking with a bunch of reporters at the kick-off presser in Los Angeles, Canelo Alvarez tried setting the record straight.

Behind the Scenes: Canelo Alvarez Clears the Air on an Alleged Offer

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No…no nothing is true. I don’t, I don’t, I don’t know,” replied Canelo Alvarez. One of the reporters had asked whether he offered $5 million to David Benavidez but subsequently never received any update. “Is this true? Let me know if this is true or if people are wrong. Is it true you offered $5 million for a Benavidez fight and then you guys didn’t hear back?

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Then the reporter made a mention of Jose Benavidez Sr. He said, “I think the dad said, oh they offered us $5 million.” The undisputed super middleweight champion flatly denied it. “No, never, never never never…not that I know and I know everything.

But then another reporter reversed the question. Whether the champion received any offer from Team Benavidez. “Nothing,” said Alvarez. He asked, “Who is he for offering me the money?” The correspondent mentioned reports of $55 million. The Mexican icon confidently responded that such an amount was within his reach, regardless of his opponent in the ring!

When asked whether he considers a fight with David Benavidez one of the biggest in the sport, Canelo Alvarez replied that he never felt so.

Evaluation of Merits

Moreover, Canelo emphasized that ‘The Mexican Monster’ fails to offer any additional value or significance. However, as a caveat, if any promoter, or for that matter, the one he works with, currently makes an offer that ranges from $150 million to $200 million, he might be willing to fight him immediately. Otherwise, Benavidez barely brings anything more than what he normally gets in a fight.

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You know he he brings he bring nothing to the table for me; just he brings just 25 pounds more in the night the the fight…but if he if if some promoter, not him, because he’s nothing to offer me…but I one promoter who I work to they come and say I offer to I offer to you 150 to 200 million. I fight tomorrow…that’s the only that’s the only reason I fight with him…” said Canelo Alvarez.

It became clear that a fight with Canelo Alvarez wouldn’t come about anytime soon. So David Benavidez subsequently made a move to the 175-pound division.  A win over Gvozdyk might put the Arizonian in pole position to fight the winner of the undisputed Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol clash.

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What’s your take on Canelo Alvarez’s replies? Do you believe that if David Benavidez comes back to the super middleweight division, there are still chances of a fight with Canelo Alvarez in the future?

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Written by:

Jaideep R Unnithan

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One take at a time

Jaideep Unnithan is a senior boxing author at EssentiallySports. Inching towards the milestone of over 2000 articles, he has been a chronicler of day-to-day developments happening inside and outside of the squared circle. Having a keen eye on the punches traded inside the ring, he has written opinion pieces on the fighting styles of Floyd Mayweather Jr, David Benavidez, and Terence Crawford.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha