News of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez signing a two-fight deal with DAZN was boxing’s worst kept secret.

It certainly wasn’t surprising to David Benavidez, who stood to benefit the most had Alvarez accepted a lucrative offer from Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

“At the end of the day, we all knew Canelo wouldn’t want to fight me, “Benavidez told BoxingScene.com in a statement through his public relations team. “He’s fought his tough fights, he’s a businessman. For him, it’s not fighting the best; it’s business.”

Alvarez (57-1-2, 39KOs) put to end weeks of speculation that he would return to DAZN, announcing last Friday that his first fight under the new deal would begin with a challenge of WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol. Their fight is set for May 7 on the streaming platform’s first exclusive pay-per-view. The second fight will come in the form of a trilogy clash with Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin (41-1-1, 36KOs) with Alvarez returning to super middleweight to defend his WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO championship.

Had a deal been reached between PBC and Alvarez, both fights would have taken place at super middleweight. The two did business together for his last fight, an 11th round knockout of Caleb Plant last November on Showtime PPV to become the first-ever undisputed super middleweight champion.

The fight took place one week prior to Benavidez’ most recent bout, a seventh-round stoppage of Kyrone Davis last November 13 in his Phoenix hometown. Benavidez (25-0, 22KOs) was marking time while waiting out what he hoped would be a mandatory shot at the WBC title he’s held twice before losing outside the ring. His promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz planned to have WBC commit to eventually ordering a mandatory title fight with Alvarez during the sanctioning body’s annual convention last November in Mexico City.

Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s head trainer and manager beat Lewkowicz to the microphone, instead making the stunning request for the Mexican star to receive an immediate shot at WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga ‘Junior’ Makabu. The WBC accommodated the request, even though Alvarez has since not at all mentioned the possibility of the fight.

It was enough to prevent Benavidez from having his mandatory challenger status enforced. Lewkowicz was forced to go to the backup plan of having his fighter challenge for the interim WBC super middleweight title. The WBC granted the request, with Benavidez due to face former IBF middleweight titlist David Lemieux in May, though awaiting confirmation on an official fight date.

In theory, the winner is to be guaranteed a shot at Alvarez. The safety net of an interim title at stake is that the winner could be upgraded to full titlist in the event Alvarez opts to go a route other than his mandatory obligation.

Whatever the case, Benavidez isn’t holding his breath on having his number called by the sport’s biggest attraction.

“I’m focused on my career, fighting the best fights I can get with the fighters who are willing to fight me,” notes Benavidez, who has stopped his last five opponents. “I’m here fighting for my fans.

“Right now it’s my fight for a third WBC world title against David Lemieux. See you all in May.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox