Explain why there are "sides" to a Canelo - Benavidez "debate"

[dan-b]

I don't get why there is such furious "debate" about a Canelo - Benavidez fight among supposed boxing fans. It's well within living memory that it was par for the course for a champion to face his number one challenger. Forget the corrupt sanctioning bodies, Benavidez is independently ranked number one too.

The only arguments I see against this fight taking place seem to revolve around immature hero worship with a decent helping of "muh A side", "muh split". If there's more to this, please explain it in rational terms below.

Munguia ranked 5.png

[Roadblock]

Its the 168 fight that needs to happen I don't understand the Canelo fans that make excuses why the fight shouldn't happen, if I was Canelo Id take it now he has a good shot of winning.

[HungryLionCharlo]

The Canelo era is turning into a circus, to be honest with you. The true 168lbs king, the face of boxing, trying to fight 160s, 154s, 147s – that's ridiculous. That's not good for boxing. That's not cool. That's why Canelo's fans are coming over to Benavidez now. Imagine if Benavidez were doing that and fighting the little guys. Imagine Benavidez trying to fight Terence Crawford or Naoya Inoue? My respect to Terence Crawford, but he's a 36yr old 147lber. There is no way Crawford can beat him. Canelo is getting criticized but he doesn't give a puck. He doesn't care. He just wants to make money fighting guys who never fought at 168lbs in their life after getting humiliated by Bivol.


Canelo talks a lot of chit about Benavidez. But that's the fight everyone wants to see. Why doesn't he want to fight The Mexican Monster? At the end of the day, he's scared to face Benavidez.

[Apollo7]

I agree of course that Champions should fight the top contenders. Contenders should fight other top contenders etc but just for the sake of answering the question one could say...

Boxing is a business. Getting beat up by Benavidez wouldn't be a good for Canelo going forward.

Also I heard that Morrell is actually next in line as far as mandos go. I'm not sure if that's true, I don't really keep track.

[BodyBagz]

Shoe on other foot, switch their resumes, and Benny's Bunch would say Nelo is just a glorified hype job.

When they do fight and, should Nelo win, the amount of excuse making would be enormous.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Fanboyism.

Any genuine boxing fan wants to see Canelo-Benavidez next and if you look at the situation pragmatically, it’s clear Canelo is the one avoiding that fight.

[Roadblock]

I agree of course that Champions should fight the top contenders. Contenders should fight other top contenders etc but just for the sake of answering the question one could say...

Boxing is a business. Getting beat up by Benavidez wouldn't be a good for Canelo going forward.

Also I heard that Morrell is actually next in line as far as mandos go. I'm not sure if that's true, I don't really keep track.

Thing is Canelo can win those fights its not one sided, he is a proud Mexican and he hasn't named an opponent fingers crossed its Benavidez.

[dan-b]

Also I heard that Morrell is actually next in line as far as mandos go. I'm not sure if that's true, I don't really keep track.

That is a technical question which in theory should have a verifiable answer. crimsonfalcon07 and I were discussing this recently.

The WBA "title reduction plan" was announced in August of 2021 and 168 is one of only three divisions which still has a 'regular' WBA titleholder (147 and heavy being the other two). However there is a question about whether the WBA considers this a mandatory.

Before Benavidez' mooted move to 175, Sulaiman had committed to announcing him as Canelo's WBC mandatory in March, but in typical fashion he fudged it by refusing to commit to a time frame for it to be satisfied. He's obviously keen to avoid a commercially prolific fighter relinquishing the WBC title.

As for the IBF, Williams Scull has been ranked #1 since he won a final eliminator against Evgeny Shvedenko on 2/7/2022. Nearly two years ago. How much longer they can all be kept in a holding pattern is an open question.

[BodyBagz]

Benny's best W is considered a nobody who Nelo beat 1st.

[dan-b]

Shoe on other foot, switch their resumes, and Benny's Bunch would say Nelo is just a glorified hype job.

When they do fight and, should Nelo win, the amount of excuse making would be enormous.

This demonstrates your participation in the problem I'm talking about. Put aside the arguments you have been having with anonymous people on the internet.

What is wrong with the principle of a champion being expected to face his number one challenger?