Boxing analyst Antonio Tarver believes that superstar Canelo Alvarez has earned himself a chance to score goals due to his many achievements during his successful career.
Tarver feels that the undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) can choose his opponents, and he should not give in to the wishes of the fans to face David Benavidez.
While he feels it would be good for Canelo to give his fans a Benavidez fight before he retires, he says he earned the right to fight whoever he wanted when he was 19 years old.
Tarver thinks Canelo is misleading Benavidez because he is in no rush to sign to fight him. However, Benavidez is deceiving himself by choosing not to fight David Morrell, who called him many times without luck.
When you consider that Benavidez chose not to accept a fight with Morrell, which could easily represent the toughest fight of his life, you have to think that his interest in fighting Canelo is not just to show that he is the best as he stands. It’s about money. If it came down to who was the best, Benavidez would fight Morrell.
“We have to understand that Canelo is on the business side of the game. He fought until he reached the top. He fought to get to this position,” said boxing analyst Antonio Tarver speaking to Fighthype when asked if Canelo Alvarez is damaging his legacy by not fighting David Benavidez.
What eludes Tarver is Benavidez’s unpopularity among boxing fans. His fight last November against Demetrius Andrade was reportedly a PPV disaster on Showtime. In Benavidez’s last fight, he fought on the undercard of Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin on June 15.
Business-wise, it doesn’t make sense for Canelo to fight Benavidez because he’s not a PPV attraction. In addition, he is a light heavyweight weighing 168. Benavidez is rumored to weigh 200 lbs, and that’s someone he shouldn’t be fighting at 168.
If the WBC had a strict 10-lb rehydration rule like the IBF, it would prevent Benavidez from fighting Canelo for that belt.
“Now these young guys understand, especially the veterans who have come through the way. They understand that our jobs are temporary. “If you’ve ever been in a shooting situation and you’ve got what you want, you’ve got to take advantage of that,” Tarver said.
Canelo is likely to fight Benavidez if he is popular and if there is a financial benefit. However, it doesn’t make sense for Canelo to fight him because he doesn’t deserve the money compared to what he can get from other fights. He’s a heavyweight, and Canelo shouldn’t be fighting a light heavyweight or a cruiserweight.
“It doesn’t happen very often. He has found his place,” said Tarver about star Canelo. “I think he can do what he wants, but before it’s over, give the fans that fight that we all want to see, and I think he’s going to do that.”
There is a huge disparity in popularity between Canelo and Benavidez. All this that Benavidez has done for the trash did not help him because he annoyed Canelo so much that he did not even want to admit it and reward him for everything he said.
“I think eventually before he retires, especially if Benavidez continues to look good,” Tarver said of Canelo having to fight Benavidez for the fans. “It is a war that cannot be avoided. It has to happen. He doesn’t register. He doesn’t run from it,” said Tarver when asked if Canelo is ducking Benavidez.
Canelo-Benavidez is not an “inevitable” fight. Benavidez is a light heavyweight now, and that’s where he should be fighting guys who belong instead of melting down to 168, looking for a payday from Canelo.
What is inevitable is Benavidez fighting in his natural weight class of 175 or 200 lbs and finding out what his fate is against the killers in those divisions.
“Yes, Canelo may have doubts in the back of his head. As a champion we must answer those doubts, and we must always answer those who criticize us,” said Tarver.
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