Canelo Alvarez has been targeted by David Benavidez for several years, and Mikey Garcia has revealed how he thinks the bout would unfold if it were to finally take place.
Benavidez claimed the WBC Interim super-middleweight title back in May 2022, with fans demanding that Canelo give him his shot at the undisputed title as a result, but to no avail.
After waiting patiently for two years, a frustrated Benavidez made the decision to move up to the light-heavyweight division. He became a world titleholder at the weight the following year when he was elevated to WBC world champion.
Earlier this month, Benavidez moved up once again and sensationally dethroned Gilberto Ramirez to claim the unified cruiserweight world titles and rise in the pound-for-pound ratings. Despite now carving his own path clearly, the 29-year-old has reaffirmed his interest in a long-awaited showdown with Canelo, calling on him to move up to 175lbs – something he has done twice before in his career – for a shot at the WBC belt.
Speaking to ESNEWS, four-division world champion Mikey Garcia labelled that proposed contest ‘pointless’, believing that the only people who wish to see the fight are those who want to witness Canelo ‘getting beat up’.
“When they were both at 168lbs, [I would have liked to have seen that fight]. It is pointless now. It is almost like you just want to see Canelo get beat up because that is what is going to happen, with Benavidez being so big now, so strong and fast.
“I would have liked that at 168lbs, that would have been a good matchup but not no more. Back then, Canelo was still up there [as one of boxing’s best fighters].”
Canelo will return to the ring on Saturday, September 12, as he attempts to retake the super-middleweight throne by overcoming newly crowned WBC champion, Christian Mbilli. He has said that he will likely remain in the division until retirement, though would move up to light-heavyweight for a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, another man Benavidez is targeting.
