Speaking in the ring, Benavidez directly asked the crowd if they wanted to see him fight Canelo Alvarez, pointing out that Canelo was in attendance. The reaction was loud, and Benavidez leaned into it, saying the fight was one that shouldn’t be left on the table.
“I respect Canelo. He’s a great champion, but I’m also a great champion. Let’s do it,” Benavidez said.
The outcry was not limited to one name. When asked about what comes next, Benavidez also targeted Dmitry Bivol, calling him the top opponent he wants.
“Bivol is number one on my hit list,” he said. “He’s a great competitor, great champion, but I’m also a great champion. I just want to test myself every fight.”
Benavidez said he is open to fighting at different weights, noting that he still has a light heavyweight title as he comes off his first fight at cruiserweight. That flexibility leaves several avenues open, depending on which opponent is willing.
Benavidez delivered them on Cinco de Mayo weekend, traditionally one of the biggest stages in boxing, and did so immediately after a high-profile victory.
Whether any fighting materializes remains unclear. Benavidez has been linked to Canelo in the past without progress, while Bivol remains one of the top names at 175 pounds.
Still, Benavidez made his position clear. He wants the biggest fights available, and he notified two of the sport’s top champions immediately after his victory.
The distance between Canelo and Benavidez has never been greater. Benavidez only unified titles at cruiserweight while Canelo Alvarez prepares for Christian Mbilli at super middleweight. That’s a gap of 32 pounds, which in boxing terms is an ocean.
Canelo is 35 and coming off a rough patch. The loss of Terence Crawford, the elbow surgery and a year long layoff means we are no longer looking at the best Canelo.
If Benavidez wants to be the “Monster” at 200 pounds, calling out Jai Opetaia is the real alpha move. Opetaia is the king of the division and just secured the Zuffa Boxing title against Brandon Glanton. A Benavidez vs. Opetaia clash would be a pure “Best vs. Best” fight without the 30-pound weight-drain drama or the “chasing a payday” optics.
However, Benavidez knows that Canelo’s name is the only one that guarantees a specific kind of immortality and a massive check. Calling him out on Cinco de Mayo weekend, with Canelo in the front row, was keeping his name attached to the biggest star in the sport, even if the logistics make that nearly impossible.
