David Benavidez isn’t waiting for anyone. “The Mexican Monster” is making plans that include beating Canelo Álvarez to a fight with Gilberto’ Zurdo’ Ramirez for the unified cruiserweight crown.
The WBC light-heavyweight champion made his move just 24 hours after World Boxing News reported Canelo would consider an all-Mexican showdown with Ramirez.
The New Ambition
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Benavidez laid out his immediate plans with brutal clarity, initially addressing the subject of facing Terence Crawford at his old weight of 168 pounds.
“Honestly, my plan is after this fight, I don’t want to go down to 168. Honestly, I am done with super middleweight,” ‘The Mexican Monster’ clarified.
“I want to take this opportunity, though, to congratulate Crawford. He put in a hell of a performance. He is up there on Mount Rushmore as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Let Crawford do his thing. At the end of the day, I have no interest in fighting Crawford. I have no interest in going down to 168. I mean, it would be dope winning all titles, but I am way past that at 168. I wouldn’t even go down to 168 for Canelo, and I am just being real with you.
“Let Crawford do his thing. I want to give him flowers; he is a great fighter. There is no other fighter that has come up from 147 to beat the type of fighter like Canelo at 168. Crawford is one of the greatest of all time. I have no interest in going down to 168. I am not saying that I am scared of Crawford. But Crawford is the man at 168, that’s his weight class. I am done with 168.”
Why the Canelo Fight Didn’t Happen
Benavidez didn’t hide his frustration that he wasn’t the one facing Canelo in the past.
“I kind of felt like that could’ve been me,” he said. “That was my moment. If I had gotten in there, I know I would’ve beaten him. That’s why it didn’t happen, because Canelo knows that would’ve happened.”
Benavidez’s Master Plan: Bivol, Beterbiev, and 200 pounds
But don’t expect Benavidez to dwell on old business. He’s focused on the path that could lead him straight to the top of the entire sport, clarifying that his plan moves beyond the 168-pound division.
The blueprint begins on November 22 in Saudi Arabia, with former world title challenger Anthony Yarde.
“I’m in such a good position right now that it could happen at 175,” he added. “I’m not focused on Canelo. I got my own stuff going on. But there might be a way to make that fight happen. I’m not really worried about that. I’m just thinking about the fighters I got to take out. And imagine I go in there and do everything I say I’m going to do. I go in there and beat Yarde, then I go fight Bivol or Beterbiev, and I beat those two fighters — the fight with Canelo is 100 times bigger than it was back then.”
Conclusion: Not Waiting on Álvarez
Benavidez’s message is loud and clear: he isn’t waiting on Canelo to clear a path. He’s coming for the titles and aiming to stake his claim at super middleweight before anyone else can.
Mentioning Ramirez on more than one occasion over the last 24 hours could become a worry for Canelo, who seems only to have one option left to create more history before retirement.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.