Benavidez was next in line to face Canelo for the WBC 168lb title. But after waiting for years, he moved up to light-heavyweight instead.
Tyson doesn't hold back when talking about Canelo. He tells Marca that the Mexican star lacks courage and fears losing.
"What's wrong with Canelo? Is he afraid of losing? Doesn't he want to give the fans the fight they want to see? Don't you want to give the fans the fight they want to see?"
The former heavyweight champ goes on to say:
"Do you not respect the legacy of the great Mexican champions who faced the best regardless of the money? This is a shame for boxing and for Mexico. If I were him, I would accept the fight with Benavidez and show the world that he is the best. But it seems he doesn't have the courage to do it; It is a shame because he has a lot of talent but he lacks heart."
In a separate interview, Tyson didn't give Canelo much of a chance against Benavidez:
"[Benavidez] is so underrated but so over-polarised here. Listen, I'd be afraid to fight him too if I was in that division. No one even has a chance against him, and I'm talking facts."
Canelo will face unbeaten contender Edgar Berlanga next. The fight will happen on September 14 in Las Vegas.
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Benavidez plans to defend his interim title later this year. A win will put him first in line to face the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol.