The price is set, but who is willing to pay? Ever since Canelo Alvarez put a price on his name for fighting David Benavidez, the boxing community has been trying to make sense of his demand. Is it a ploy to nab the biggest payout of his career? Is it an excuse to price himself out of a dangerous fight? It seems it will turn out to be a decision the champion will remember for a long time; either he’ll rejoice, basking in the pool of money, or rue his decision to miss on the hype train.

The Mexican champion has avoided ‘The Mexican Monster,’ his WBC mandatory for over two years. There has been considerable buzz and excitement among the fans about the probable fight. Moreover, it is the biggest fight in the boxing world right now which can be made. So, who is willing to shell out $200 million to stage the fight?

Canelo Alvarez’s nine-figure demand: Smart ploy and fair price

The more the super middleweight champion tries to avoid or play down the fight, the bigger it gets. He also knows that. He might slowly let the hype brew a bit more and then capitalize on it. Alvarez, 33, has received backlash for his calls whenever it comes to fighting the WBC interim champion, which only adds to the hype of the fight.

What’s more? The likes of Leonard Ellerbe believe the undisputed champion deserves a nine-figure paycheck. Benavidez’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, also shares similar views, as he believes Alvarez deserves to take home $150 million, if not the $200 million mark. Alvarez has followed Floyd Mayweather‘s blueprint and might rack in hefty revenue because of it. Hold on to the fight until everyone begs you to be in the same ring, with soaring demands from promoters and fans. But who will come with suitcases filled with cash? The Saudis.

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That’s what Alvarez is also hoping for. No one will put this much money into a fight, except for them. The Saudis have just started their expansion in combat sports, and they would love to have the face of the boxing fight on their soil. Everyone gets what they want. Benavidez, 27, gets his dream fight and payroll. Alvarez gets the price he wants, and Saudis shift the tilt of boxing from Las Vegas to Riyadh. However, there is a minor hiccup. What if the Saudis start looking for a cheaper super fight?

Alvarez’s misfiring tactic but David Benavidez’s gain

Michael Benson had recently brought news that might spoil the plan for the Guadalajara native. Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh would prefer if Benavidez, at 28-0 with 24 KOs, faced the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol in December. Benavidez had made himself available for the Alvarez fight for a paltry $5 million. But if a lucrative offer is on the table, chances are that he will accept the biggest purse of his career.

In addition, Benavidez finally gets an opportunity to fight for the undisputed crown, albeit at 175 rather than 168. All he has to do is breeze past Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June. The Phoenix native has the perfect opportunity to cement his legacy and make a fortune. Meanwhile, these reports of a “practical” fight also suggest that HE Turki Alalshikh doesn’t want to meet Alvarez’s steep asking price. The 60-2-2 record holder has priced himself out of the Saudi windfall, and he might have ruined his chances to jump on the Riyadh bandwagon.

The misery doesn’t end here for Alvarez. If Benavidez ends up fighting for the undisputed throne at 175, the chances are that he might make his stay permanent. He is draining himself to make weight for 168. So, he might choose comfort over a dream fight if he gets his pockets filled after facing the winner of Beterbiev vs. Bivol in Riyadh. As a result, Alvarez might be robbed of a huge payday. But isn’t it what he always wanted? To not fight Benavidez?

Is Canelo Alvarez vs. David Benavidez actually happening?

Alvarez is serious about his price tag, and to some extent, it might be his ploy to ensure the Benavidez fight doesn’t happen. He is at a stage of a career where it’s more about legacy than holding those belts, and Benavidez still doesn’t fit the bill for him. He has racked up enough money from fighting and ventures outside it to retire into a lavish life. So, it’s not about money. Neither is it about holding the division hostage.

Mayweather Promotions CEO Backs Canelo Alvarez’s $200 Million David Benavidez Shot: “He Has Made an Enormous Amount of Money”

The fight just doesn’t hold appeal for Alvarez. Remember, WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán hasn’t enforced Benavidez as Alvarez’s mandatory yet. Alvarez has slapped a number on it to make it interesting, and it’s smart of him to avoid a fight like this. Either he beefs up his wealth by a couple hundred million or moves on without listening to the pestering questions about him not facing Benavidez.

What do you make of this demand by Canelo Alvarez? Do you believe the Mexican champion has put in a reasonable demand to fight David Benavidez? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: “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