Did Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez Avoid David Benavidez? Terence Crawford Reveals Why the Fight Never Happened
For years, boxing fans demanded a showdown between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and David Benavidez.
The matchup seemed inevitable when the Mexican star ruled as the undisputed super-middleweight champion while the Mexican-American fighter held the WBC interim title at 168 pounds.
Yet the fight never materialized, fueling criticism toward Canelo Alvarez, with some accusing the Mexican champion of avoiding one of the most dangerous contenders in the division.
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Now, the man who decided to weigh in on the debate is Terence Crawford.
Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast, Crawford offered a straightforward explanation for why the fight never moved beyond speculation. According to the American fighter, the key factor has always been Benavidez’s physical size.
Benavidez’s size may have been the decisive factor
According to Terence Crawford, David Benavidez presents a very different physical challenge compared to most opponents Canelo has faced throughout his career. The American explained that even if both fighters make the same weight on the scale, the real difference appears once fight night arrives.
“Canelo knows how big Benavidez is going to be when he steps into the ring,” Crawford said in comments shared during his conversation with Joe Rogan.
He also described Benavidez as a tall, naturally big fighter with an imposing physical presence, something that could create a serious advantage at the elite level.
From Crawford’s perspective, the reasoning could be simple: why step into the ring with a fighter who will likely be much bigger when the fight actually begins?
Crawford also praises Canelo’s legacy
Despite pointing to the size difference, Crawford also made it clear that he respects Canelo Alvarez’s career and everything the Mexican champion has achieved in the sport.
The American highlighted that Canelo has built an impressive legacy by fighting larger opponents for most of his career. Standing at around 5’7” (1.70 m), Alvarez has competed successfully in higher divisions, even moving up to 175 pounds, where many rivals had a clear size advantage.
“Canelo is not a big guy, but he’s been fighting bigger guys his whole career and beating them with skill,” Crawford explained.
A fight that now seems more unlikely than ever
While the debate among fans continues, everything suggests that a fight between Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez may never happen.
In search of new challenges, Benavidez decided to move up in weight and establish himself in higher divisions. After his run at super-middleweight, the American moved to the 175-pound division, where he eventually captured the WBC title and continued building his reputation as one of boxing’s most dangerous fighters.
Now, the man known as the “Mexican Monster” is even aiming to become a champion in a third division when he faces Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for cruiserweight titles in Las Vegas.
