s voice incorporates no frustration when he talks about his incapability to safe a battle with z.
It's a battle he says by no means will happen after years of chasing it.
“I can say with confidence that battle isn’t going to occur,” Benavidez, 29, stated on the Final Stand Podcast that printed this week. “I don’t need to preserve calling somebody out who doesn’t need to battle.”
For years, Alvarez was the tantalizing opponent who may have given Benavidez immediate credibility and potential stardom. A victory over the Mexican boxing legend may have catapulted Benavidez to the highest of the game.
However Benavidez now not wants a 36-year-old, pale legend like Alvarez.
There was a window of possibly 5 to seven years when a battle made sense.
Alvarez sidestepped it. Benavidez obtained greater and stronger. Benavidez may destroy Alvarez.
Who would that serve? Neither fighter, and never boxing both.
Benavidez carves personal path
Benavidez is supremely gifted, with a mix of energy and hand velocity and an urge for food for punishment – principally inflicted on others but in addition absorbed.
He has carved out a singular path, and that is the place Benavidez has arrived: He’s the WBC gentle heavyweight champion and the WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion. He’s 32-0 with 26 knockouts and there’s no proof he and Alvarez are on a collision course.
Alvarez is mapping out the tip of his profession. He’s 63-3-2 with 39 KOs and scheduled to battle Christian Mbilli Oct. 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He’s planning the ultimate fights of his profession, not for a conflict.
It would mark Alvarez’s first battle since he misplaced to Terence Crawford by unanimous choice greater than a yr in the past. When twilight set in for the longer term Corridor of Famer.
Benavidez is constructing a legacy worthy of a spot within the Worldwide Corridor of Fame. He’s scheduled to fightMichal Cieslak on Dec. 5 in a world cruiserweight title battle.
Then the enjoyable might start.
What's subsequent for Benavidez
Benavidez has climbed from the supermiddleweight to the sunshine heavyweight and as much as the ranks of cruiserweight.
Now he's considering combating as a heavyweight, too, quite than settling in at one weight.
He has stated he plans to signal a three-fight contract that includes fights towards cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, former undisputed Artur Beterbiev and former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Alvarez will not be on the record of upcoming opponents.
“Canelo, on the finish of the day, he’s an incredible fighter,’’ Benavidez stated on Brian Custer’s Final Stand Podcast. ”He’s a legend. And, you understand, I want to be a legend like him and comply with in his footsteps and grow to be an incredible fighter like him.”
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: y