After chasing Canelo Alvarez for the best part of two years, David Benavidez now hopes another super-middleweight can be granted his shot at the Mexican.
Ultimately, Benavidez was never presented with the chance to become a three-time world champion at 168lbs, despite making two defences of his WBC ‘interim’ title.
As a result, many have blamed Canelo for consistently ducking the ‘Mexican Monster’ who, as a unified cruiserweight champion, is now even less likely to face the modern pound-for-pound great.
But while recognising that his own ship has sailed, Benavidez nonetheless hopes that former world middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly can secure his opportunity.
The unbeaten Uzbek vacated his WBO title at 160lbs earlier this year, having previously been stripped of his IBF belt after testing positive for banned substance meldonium in November 2025.
Nevertheless, the 33-year-old became the WBO’s mandatory challenger at 168lbs, only for Hamzah Sheeraz to vacate his strap after their ordered bout went to a purse bid hearing.
Instead, Alimkhanuly will face fellow unbeaten contender Jacob Bank for the vacant title on January 23, when a victory could place him in the Canelo sweepstakes for 2027.
Speaking with Fight Hub TV, Benavidez said he sincerely hopes, but remains doubtful, that their unification match materialises.
“The only fight that I would love to see [Canelo in], which would be a great fight, [is against] Janibek. But I don’t think that would ever happen.”
Most seem to be highlighting Sheeraz as a more likely opponent for Canelo, who reclaimed his WBC title by unanimously outpointing and dethroning Christian Mbilli last month.
