It hasn’t been made official, however rumors are swirling that Canelo Alvarez is days away from asserting that he’ll defend his undisputed tremendous middleweight championship towards Jermall Charlo on Could four in Las Vegas. The Ring’s Joe Santoliquito broke that story on Monday.
If such info sparks your deja vu, then there is a good cause for it.
Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs) is coming off a ridiculously straightforward 12-round unanimous resolution win over Jermall’s twin brother, Jermell, in September. That bout was extra a sparring session than a prize struggle and Charlo’s safety-first efficiency was ridiculed.
Expectations weren’t excessive for the struggle getting in as a result of Jermell Charlo had been woefully inactive and was the naturally smaller man. Properly, Jermall has had simply two fights in three-and-a-half years and also will be transferring up in weight. For struggle followers, that is like being compelled to return and see a film that you simply didn’t like the primary time round.
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The 33-year-old Canelo is undoubtedly a terrific fighter and he has taken dangerous assignments all through his profession. A four-weight world champion, the Mexican icon has defeated elite-level opponents corresponding to Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto, Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev.
Nevertheless, since a factors defeat to WBA mild heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol in Could 2022, Canelo has given followers little or no to shout about. A second win over Golovkin didn’t dazzle; a WBA necessary task towards John Ryder was considered as a formality, and the Jermell Charlo win was a remedy for insomnia.
What followers have been crying out for is a matchup between Canelo and David Benavidez.
Who’s David Benavidez?
Benavidez, 26, is an unbeaten and hard-hitting strain fighter who hails from Phoenix, Arizona and fights out of Las Vegas.
Often known as “The Mexican Monster”, he is had two controversial reigns as WBC tremendous middleweight champion. Benavidez was stripped in 2018 after testing optimistic for cocaine, leading to a four-month ban. Then, after regaining the title, he didn’t make weight for a protection towards Roamer Alexis Angulo in 2020 and was stripped once more.
Since that point, Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) has restored his popularity and located the most effective type of his profession. A convincing factors win over Caleb Plant was spectacular, as was his annihilation of former two-weight world champ Demetrius Andrade.
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Is Canelo combating David Benavidez in 2024?
In Could 2022, Benavidez thrashed former middleweight titleholder David Lemieux to assert the interim WBC 168-pound title. He’s at present that group’s necessary challenger.
Mauricio Sulaiman, the WBC president, mentioned Canelo’s obligation on the finish of final yr. “March 2024 is Benavidez’s deadline, earlier than that no injustice has been accomplished,” he advised Professional Field by way of marca.com.
“Between now and Could there are six months to go, so we’re within the course of, the events are speaking, however Benavidez is unquestionably the official challenger and the Council is evident in that sense and can perform the method to make the struggle occur.”
Properly, March 2024 is approaching quick. Will the WBC act or grant Canelo an extension?
Taking politics out of the equation, Canelo vs. Benavidez is the most effective struggle within the tremendous middleweight division.
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Would Canelo beat David Benavidez?
Canelo’s popularity as a celebrity would in all probability see him open as a slight favourite. Nevertheless, the hazard is clear and Benavidez has an terrible lot of backers. It’s due to this fact conceivable that Canelo would be the underdog by struggle time.
Benavidez is 6ft 2ins and he’s large for an excellent middleweight. In line with CompuBox, the Mexican American is rated sixth for common punch connects per spherical at 23.5, which places him forward of pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue, who clocks in at 21.8.
It is truthful to say that Canelo has the higher skillset and protection. Nevertheless, Benavidez has youth, dimension, power and an edge in punching energy. Would Canelo be capable to thwart the youthful man’s aggression? Can Benavidez overcome the Mexican warrior’s expertise?
We’ll solely discover out if and once they meet within the ring.
