Dan Rafael: Canelo Alvarez decided to part ways with PBC after turning down a Guaranteed 35 million vs Jermall Charlo as PBC included an agreement that Canelo must face David Benavidez in September

[The Big Dunn]

you can believe what you want, but you know floyd made it difficult and fought pac on floyd's time.

"ok will make it bigger down the road"... that's exactly what i feel canelo is doing.. he's not afraid of benavidez.. he will fight benavidez when he feel the time is right just like how floyd did with pac.

Making it difficult doesn’t absolve manny from turning it down. ODH made it difficult for Floyd, he took it.

OK, but Canelo didn’t make Benavidez an offer for more money than he ever made. Floyd did that with Manny on at least 2 occasions.

You can’t really compare the two because Floyd actively tried to fight Manny. Canelo has not done this with Benavidez.

If Canelo does offer and Benavidez turns it down, that would be a fair comparison.

[The Big Dunn]

I think Canelo winning in a robbery was my pick lol, but I don't remember. I was and still am a believer in Bivol, so it's possible I picked him outright.

If Canelo was concerned about winning/losing, I think he would've fought Benavidez instead of Bivol. Bivol for a LHW title was what motivated him, while he may have perceived David as another title defense. He and his team may have watched the Lemieux fight and thought, "Hmmmm....that's a match-up we can marinate". But now they have to be careful that it isn't marinated too long. There aren't enough marketable fights left for Canelo. He needs David to continue progressing.

I think Canelo, as did most, thought Bivol was more hype than substance based on his resume. I think we all learned by round 3 that Canelo and his team severely misjudged him.

Yeah, if David somehow gets 2 LHW titles, then Canelo might decide to fight him.

If David somehow beats the Bivol/Bieterbiev winner, the fight would be significantly bigger.

[JakeTheBoxer]

I think Benavidez becomes Canelo's biggest priority if he beats Gvozdyk and then Beterbiev/Bivol. That's the smart play. He needs to leave 168 alone.

I think Benavidez should stay at 168 and fight Morrell and Mbilli.



The situation sucks for him. Canelo took the belts hostage and 175 top dogs beat Beavidez IMO.

[brettWall]

All of these reports are mere speculations. These news writers first need to convince people that PBC's deal with Amazon is the same as if Showtime never left. So all these reports are nothing but fabrication. One Youtube clickbaiter says Haymon offered $60 million. What a bunch of lying hyenas.

Then there was Chris Mannix saying Ennis fight with Crowley is on Canelo's undercard in May as soon as the IBF order was announced. Everyone else made the same claim and used him as the source. Wtf does Mannix know about what's going on inside the mysterious PBC? He couldn't even wait till after the 30 days negotiations is over. He's already assuming everything is still okay with Canelo's deal with PBC. He wouldn't even reach out to Ennis' team for confirmation. Not only that, he completely disregarded Ennis preference of his fights to be separate, not mere undercards.

[_Jordan_]

Come on!! Forget about Canelo already, strip his belts and get Benavidez to fight Morrell Jr FFS!

[joseph5620]

Did David become interim titlist/mandatory by beating Lemuiex? If so, David is a beneficiary of Canelo 'daring to be great' by facing Bivol. WBC is a part of the problem.

I think Benavidez is a top 3 option for Canelo, from a marketing standpoint. Canelo is risking this match-up by letting it linger. The sooner Canelo faces him, the more likely he is to win. He's also giving David too much rope to hang himself: David has a vulnerable style, and he's shown discipline issues in the past. Fortunately for Canelo, David's team have been adept matchmakers because guys like Andrade and Lemieux were stepping stones. David hasn't fought Morrell and Mbilli because those are arguably the toughest. Although I think he breaks down Gvozdyk, that is the biggest risk he's taken so far. If he loses, that'll hurt Canelo/Benavidez a little.

I think Benavidez becomes Canelo's biggest priority if he beats Gvozdyk and then Beterbiev/Bivol. That's the smart play. He needs to leave 168 alone.

I agree 100 percent.

[kiaba360]

I think Benavidez should stay at 168 and fight Morrell and Mbilli.



The situation sucks for him. Canelo took the belts hostage and 175 top dogs beat Beavidez IMO.

Is the risk not worth the reward? Benavidez could lose to Morrell/Mbilli, or Beterbiev/Bivol/Gvozdyk. Both paths potentially lead to the same destination: Canelo. David defended his match-up against Andrade by downplaying Morrell....so it's clear that Morrell is not a top priority, and PBC isn't building him well enough for Canelo to make Morrell a priority either. That's why Benavidez doesn't want to fight him. Sr. is discussing Mbilli because of the favorable style match-up, but that isn't a gimme either. Which would you choose? Older and more accomplished Gvozdyk/Beterbiev/Bivol, or younger and hungrier Morrell/Mbilli? Everyone wants to fight Canelo, but few want to make themselves a star in the process of getting to him. They want Canelo to be the star-making fight, and that's the crux of the issue. Canelo cares about continuing to grow his own star and legacy, not everyone else's. So with that in mind, Benavidez's primary concern should be building his own star-power/legacy independent of what Canelo does. You don't chase the cash-cow, you draw him to you. I think Benavidez needs to move at LHW because it builds his profile/resume faster and it potentially makes him more attractive for Canelo. I think a LHW move is high risk and high reward. You guys seem to not think that David can win, so he should stay at SMW. But do you think he has an easier time with Morrell/Mbilli, especially given that he's draining himself?

[Madison Boxing]

he is absolutely terrified of benavidez

[JakeTheBoxer]

Is the risk not worth the reward? Benavidez could lose to Morrell/Mbilli, or Beterbiev/Bivol/Gvozdyk. Both paths potentially lead to the same destination: Canelo. David defended his match-up against Andrade by downplaying Morrell....so it's clear that Morrell is not a top priority, and PBC isn't building him well enough for Canelo to make Morrell a priority either. That's why Benavidez doesn't want to fight him. Sr. is discussing Mbilli because of the favorable style match-up, but that isn't a gimme either. Which would you choose? Older and more accomplished Gvozdyk/Beterbiev/Bivol, or younger and hungrier Morrell/Mbilli? Everyone wants to fight Canelo, but few want to make themselves a star in the process of getting to him. They want Canelo to be the star-making fight, and that's the crux of the issue. Canelo cares about continuing to grow his own star and legacy, not everyone else's. So with that in mind, Benavidez's primary concern should be building his own star-power/legacy independent of what Canelo does. You don't chase the cash-cow, you draw him to you. I think Benavidez needs to move at LHW because it builds his profile/resume faster and it potentially makes him more attractive for Canelo. I think a LHW move is high risk and high reward. You guys seem to not think that David can win, so he should stay at SMW. But do you think he has an easier time with Morrell/Mbilli, especially given that he's draining himself?

To be honest, I am not impressed with Mbilli. If Benavidez still feels comfortable at 168, he should beat him.

But you have a point.

I feel that even washed up Gvozdyk is more dangerous than anybody at 168. Just because Beterbiev knocked him out, it doesn`t mean that it will be and easy fight for Benavidez.

[kiaba360]

To be honest, I am not impressed with Mbilli. If Benavidez still feels comfortable at 168, he should beat him.

But you have a point.

I feel that even washed up Gvozdyk is more dangerous than anybody at 168. Just because Beterbiev knocked him out, it doesn`t mean that it will be and easy fight for Benavidez.

I think Mbilli gets Benavidez prepared for Canelo the most. Similar physical stature, and both Canelo/Mbilli like throwing combinations. I think we'll get an idea of how Canelo/Benavidez looks based on Benavidez/Mbilli.

Gvozdyk has power, but stylistically he's more of a boxer/mover. Gvozdyk doesn't have much of an inside game, and primarily uses his legs for defense. Benavidez may not be as dangerous as Beterbiev, but I don't think he needs to be in order to beat Gvozdyk. Benavidez can lose to Gvozdyk, but he shouldn't be.