David Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) really wanted to meet Saul Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs). Canelo was offered a lot of money for this fight, but he chose a different path and a meeting with Dmitry Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs).
According to many experts, Benavidez, a former two-time world champion in the super middleweight division, is the only boxer who can interrupt Canelo's victory march. The Mexican was reportedly offered $55 million to fight 25-year-old Benavidez at Al Haymon's PBC night.
“I was shocked because I later found out that Canelo was supposed to get $55 million to fight me, plus a percentage of pay-per-view sales. However, he is his own master and does what he wants. Honestly, I'm trying to forget about this fight. It even seems to me that this will never happen. This should have taken place a year or a half ago. There is also Demetrius Andreid, Caleb Plant, David Lemieux and I hope that Jermall Charlo will also appear in my weight class soon. I deserved a fight with Canelo, but what can you do. I train very hard and by the end of the year I want to be a three-time world champion,” said Benavidez.
On May 21, Benavides will face David Lemieux (43-4, 36 KOs). The best of this pair will receive a WBC belt of 76.2 kg, but so far only in the "temporary" version. Alvarez is still the rightful champion in this weight class.
