By Sean Jones
OCTOBER 21, 2022
Source: Boxing News 24
Photo Source: Ed Mulholland
David Benavidez would get a fight against Canelo Alvarez if he beats Jermall Charlo or Caleb Plant, says Eddie Hearn. He feels that Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) needs to earn a title shot against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo by beating one of those two.
It’s not enough that Benavidez is the WBC interim 168-lb champion and the mandatory for Canelo’s title with that organization. Benavidez still needs to earn the fight against Canelo, even though he’s done more than enough to earn the fight by becoming the WBC mandatory and interim champion.
What Hearn is talking about sounds like it’s from a textbook on how fighters can avoid facing the best. In other sports, when you earn a playoff spot or a chance at the Super Bowl, you’re not asked to go back and restart the process of earning the opportunity. You’ve already earned it. But with the way Hearn is talking, Benavidez being mandatory for Canelo’s WBC title means nothing.
I don’t believe Canelo will give Benavidez a fight even if he beats both Charlo and Plant because he’ll then likely fall back on him not wanting to fight other Mexican fighters as an excuse to avoid him.
“Great fighters like Benavidez. Benavidez now is going to fight [Jose] Uzcategui, a good fighter, a strong fighter, but come on. You’re screaming out for Canelo Alvarez. You have to make statements. You have to make the fans say, ‘Canelo, you must take [the Benavidez fight,'” said Eddie Hearn to Fight Hub TV.
“You know that when a fighter is big enough and when Canelo Alvarez feels that fighter deserves that opportunity, he will give them that opportunity.
“I don’t blame Benavidez because I believe Benavidez wants to be in big fights, but it’s embarrassing. When did Benavidez last fight? Now they’re announcing a fight [with Jose Uzcategui] for January or February. Why?
“Caleb Plant, I saw him with a good win. Charlo, who has Charlo fought? Benavidez is a great fighter. You have to force a fight. When Canelo Alvarez has achieved everything he’s achieved, where is the motivation to fight David Benavidez?
“Don’t get me wrong. He’s a good fight. He [Canelo] wants to challenge himself. Rematch Bivol. Move up to light heavyweight. He will fight Benavidez, I’m sure. It’s not my decision. It’s Eddy Reynoso. He has no fear of David Benavidez.
“All he wants is these guys to earn the shot and let the world call out for a huge fight. If Benavidez went and beat [Jermall] Charlo or went and beat, Canelo would fight him in an instant. But he’s fighting Uzcategui in January or February. “I think they’re doing a disservice to Benavidez’s career because he’s a great fighter because I know he wants great fights. You got two guys in the same camp, Plant and Benavidez. It’s a massive fight. Make the fight. I don’t understand,” said Hearn.
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