David Banavidez was willing – or should I say dream – to face Canelo Alvarez in 168. The Mexican monster chased the Mexican king. If Canelo beat Terence Crawford, that battle was inevitable – the payday, the glory, the throne.
Now he has an even bigger opportunity: to avenge the Canelo loss and restore the pride of Mexican warriors. To continue the tradition of Sánchez, Chávez, Morales and Barrera. And let’s be clear – Turki would give him the greatest wallet of his career, much bigger than Canelo could have.
Crawford, who first rejected the idea, will come. He lives for history, for challenges. And he won’t walk away from another mountain. Add a human wallet, and the fight is there to take.
But benavidez looked at the board and did the math. He’s already a big name with real buzzing. If he makes smart moves on 175, the road can clean him. Artur Betterbiev can retire. Biblical may not be able to take the fight. The obstacles could disappear. He could rule.
To face 168 in Crawford would be a big mistake-a hype end.
How Crawford Benavidez beat
Banavidez’s danger comes from three things: size, volume and engine. He doesn’t turn off your lights with one shot – he drowns you with 80 pushes a round, relentless pressure, and a guest tank that empty opponents in the second half.
Crawford was built to break down the exact style.
- Size neutralized by timing. Benavidez comes long, upright and open in the middle. Crawford punishes forward momentum. The selection hook as he leans in. The straight to the left to the body. The short top cut inside. Every advance costs him.
- Volume neutralized by rhythm breaks. Banavidez needs flow to throw. Crawford never let a fighter flow. He lubricates, binds on, forces again and then lets you walk into a trap. The lawline becomes a drip.
- Engine neutralized by patience. Benavidez wins late because others are fading. Crawford is the best closer to boxing. By round 7, benavidez is slower, less sharp. This is when Crawford intensifies, the output increases and finishes what he started.
And if you want to see how it is playing out here is the map:
- Rounds 1–3: Crawford remains patient, surrounded, examined with the stab. He makes Benavidez throw and miss, and then lands sharp counters – a hook here, a straight left to the body there. Every forward step food.
- Rounds 4–6: Crawford switches Southpaw over, starts to jerk to the body. Shortly left to the liver, above when Benavidez leans in. He climbs smartly to suffocate combinations and break the rhythm. The volume delayed.
- Rounds 7–9: The sample begins to fade. Crawford displays its production and throws sharp three-punch counters. Benavidez’s shots lose snap. Crawford’s accuracy makes the great advantage irrelevant.
- Rounds 10-12: Crawford takes over. He steps in Benavidez to punish counters, strikes his head back and forces him to survive. Whether it is a late downtime or a wide decision, the story is the same: the monster drowns in its own pressure.
Caleb plant had movement, but no power. Demetrius Andrade had power early, but no gas late. Crawford has both. He can stab Benavidez enough to delay him – and last long enough to break him.
The Career Plan Breaker
Crawford ended PBC’s golden goose when he took Errol Spence apart. The road map was clear: multiple battles, a trilogy, years of PPVs. Crawford hit it in nine rounds. Spence has not fought since.
He destroyed Canelo’s $ 400m Riyadh agreement. The Mexican king was supposed to be exposed, to secure his legacy and ride in the sunset. Crawford destroyed that plan in one night.
And if Benavidez accepts him at 168, the same thing will happen. The hype will end. The road will close.
Even Bob Arum and Freddie Roach admitted to protecting Pacquiao from him. The insiders knew. Bud is not a fight. He is a problem.
The excuses will come
If Benavidez loses against Crawford, the excuses will come in. Fans will say that he is weight drain, that he should have stayed at 175. The timing was wrong. They will rationalize, they will deny, they will try to comfort themselves with words.
But none of that will erase the result. The Mexican sample will be tamed. The aura will disappear. The truth will remain: Banavidez faced a fighter that he couldn’t overwhelm. And once Crawford beats you, you’re never the same again.
The excitement is gone
That’s why Banavidez no longer wants 168. He knows what awaits him. He knows what happens when Bud arrives.
Canelo was the price. Crawford is the problem. And if the fight ever occurs, Benavidez’s fans will understand the meaning of BB King’s old song. The excitement is gone.
Last updated on 09/25/2025
