Benavidez’s Shift To Canelo: A Psychological Retreat From A Tough Challenge?

David Benavidez could also be getting cold feet about being the WBC mandatory for the winner of this month’s rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

On social media today, Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) made an urgent plea to superstar Canelo Alvarez, telling him, “Let’s give the fans what they deserve.” Benavidez is already set to make mega-millions fighting the Beterbiev-Bivol 2 winner, so why does he need Canelo now? This sudden change of targets for Benavidez can only be interpreted a technique. He’s afraid.

There’s no other way of taking a look at this aside from to say that Benavidez is having second thoughts in regards to the dangerous task that he has in front of him against Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol.

The Path Of Least Resistance

Fear causes people to take the simple path, which appears to be what we see with Benavidez. He anticipates the pain in fighting for the 175-lb championship, likely seeing himself fail and get knocked out like a lot of Artur’s past opponents. His callout of Canelo today clearly signals that he desires to be saved from the wolf, Beterbiev, and hopes the Mexican star will help him.

Benavidez’s recent fight against David Morrell (11-1, 9 KOs) last Saturday night on February 1st could have zapped away the self-belief that he had going into that confidence. Morrell did a number on Benavidez’s face, transforming it right into a monster-like mask together with his hard punches.

The Cuban showed he had way more power, dropping Benavidez within the eleventh round and unloading with heavy artillery against the exhausted fighter within the twelfth. That fight showed that Benavidez was not ready for the knockout artist Artur Beterbiev, and perhaps not even Bivol.

The ‘Mexican Monster’ has an enormous job in front of him, attempting to beat whoever emerges from the sunshine heavyweight championship on February twenty second. Fans imagine that Benavidez doesn’t need to fight Beterbiev or Bivol now, knowing that he could lose, and his profession would sink after.

“Imagine if Canelo would just agree and fight me already. It’s not in regards to the money; it’s about what the game needs straight away, and we owe it to the fans. It could go down as the most effective Mexican shootout in boxing history. Let’s give the fans what they deserve. We’re 300 percent confident on this side, but I can’t say the identical for the opposite side,” said Benavidez on Instagram.

Benavidez comes across here like he’s begging Canelo to assist him, like an old friend who needs him for a pick-me-up. He’s not asking Canelo. He’s begging him, and there will be just one reason. He doesn’t feel as much as the duty of fighting for the 175-lb championship against the Beterbiev-Bivol winner.

What Benavidez should do is let the WBC know that he doesn’t want to be mandatory for that fight and provides it to Morrell. He’ll gladly tackle the job.

Last Updated on 02/07/2025