A BENAVIDEZ DUCK?

So, Canelo Alvarez’s three-fight deal with PBC has crumbled after just a single outing, and now it looks as if the Mexican will head back to Matchroom and DAZN.

It’s a real kick in the creds for those who were hoping to see Alvarez face off with David Benavidez this year, in what would be widely considered his most difficult proposition.

It looked as if all avenues led to Benavidez too, with limited other options inside the PBC fence. Yet instead, the face of boxing was determined to eliminate another Charlo.

Because, of course, what we really need, after Jermell Charlo’s sham of a performance against Alvarez last year, is for him to step up for his second fight in 34 months.

Especially after his ground-breaking victory over Jose Benavidez Jr in November.

I suppose there could be the brotherly-revenge angle, however that could be a difficult one to pitch considering the pair can barely tolerate each other at the best of times.

It’s been reported that PBC were more than willing to submit the Jermell fight for May 4th, but only providing Alvarez would commit to then taking on Benavidez in September.

I don’t want to be too hasty in blaming Alvarez, as Benavidez was NOT one of the three names proposed in the original contract. Those were the two Charlo’s and Errol Spence.

However, I refuse to believe that if Alvarez really wanted that fight, he couldn’t have done more.

Think about it, Alvarez told Benavidez to go and fight other opponents to earn his respect, and earn their fight. He did, by beating Caleb Plant and retiring Demetrius Andrade.

Yet Alvarez will now likely fight Edgar Berlanga next, who is yet to even sniff any world level opposition. That isn’t to say he isn’t a good fighter, but let’s keep some order here.

Maybe with all that is going on in Saudi Arabia right now, PBC’s reported guarantee of $55 million for the Benavidez fight just wasn’t quite enough for Alvarez.

Then again, Eddy Reynoso has openly denied that said offer has been made.

I guess that is the obvious problem with such stories. Whilst everyone from promoters to managers try to run damage control, us fans are unaware as to who believe.

I hope it is Alvarez, I really do. He is after all three years younger now than Floyd Mayweather was when they met back in 2013, and there are many similarities.

Like Benavidez now, Canelo was the unbeaten, feared, young buck. It was a mere duty of Mayweather’s excellence to shut down the threat to his boxing throne.

So that is exactly what he did. And I only want to see Alvarez do the same.

Until then, I guess we have both Berlanga and a very tasty fight with Jaime Munguia to look forward to. Or of course, there is one with another free agent in Terence Crawford.

PBC, look away right now.

Oscar Bevis

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