‘Sucker’ Hunch: Hope for Canelo Alvarez-David Benavidez in September?

Following a newfound injection of confidence that Saul “Canelo” Alvarez gained from his impressive unanimous decision victory over the younger, taller Jaime Munguia on Saturday night, the path to a September showdown between Alvarez and unbeaten David Benavidez has legs.

Envision it: Should unbeaten former super middleweight titleholder Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) defeat former light heavyweight titlist Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, the 27-year-old Benavidez would have a narrower window than usual to turn around and fight Alvarez during his traditional mid-September fight date.

Not only that, the 33-year-old Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) would be entitled to ask the coming-down-in-weight Benavidez to adhere to a rehydration clause stipulating that he can’t show up as a cruiserweight for the bout.

“That sucker inside of me has come back. … I think that fight may happen,” ProBox TV analyst Chris Algieri said on Monday’s episode of “Deep Waters.” “There’s things that are moving. Maybe this doesn’t seem out of sorts. I’m still holding on to, ‘Hey, we might get this fight.’ You can see a path.”

Mexico’s Alvarez shared a viral moment with Phoenix’s Benavidez following Canelo’s impassioned Cinco de Mayo weekend victory at T-Mobile Arena, as Alvarez stood in the ring and pointed down at him while smiling at an observing Benavidez, who widened his arms in a reaction meaning, “I’m here. I’m ready.”

Jose Benavidez Sr., David’s father-trainer, told BoxingScene on Saturday that his son will have “no problem” cutting weight and getting back down to the figure he fought at in stopping then-unbeaten Demetrius Andrade in November.

Benavidez, as undisputed super middleweight Alvarez’s WBC mandatory contender, has expressed frustration about his lengthy wait for the popular four-division champion, who bypassed him in favor of Munguia.

And while Algieri noted that “everyone’s talking about” unbeaten WBA mandatory contender Edgar Berlanga being first in line for Alvarez, with Berlanga saying he’s “1,000 percent” confident that he’ll land the September bout, circumstances favoring Benavidez are trending positive.

“I don’t know if it’s because he is feeling good and confident, but [Alvarez] seems open to the Benavidez fight,” Algieri said. “This was a great performance against a very durable, tough, young guy [in Munguia]. Maybe things change. …”

One thing that’s certain is that there would be far more money on the table for a Benavidez bout than for a likely Berlanga blowout.

A boxing official familiar with negotiations before Alvarez settled on a one-fight agreement with Premier Boxing Champions to fight Munguia told BoxingScene recently that Alvarez was earlier offered “close to” $100 million by PBC for a Benavidez bout in September that would’ve capped a two-fight deal.

Later, Alvarez told reporters he would fight Benavidez for $150 million to $200 million.

“Things change when you float around some money. … Canelo has been around this business for a long time. He’s made a lot of smart moves and made a lot of money,” Algieri said. “He’s looking to make a lot more money and he’s in the twilight of his career. He’s said he’s got around five more fights, and he’s said, ‘I am going to retire from boxing. Boxing is not going to retire me.’ So he’s very much a man in the driver’s seat.”

Alvarez understands well that a young 34-year-old has a better chance against a weight-restricted Benavidez on a tight turnaround than the alternative of waiting until 2025.

And he also may feel the need to answer those fans who on Saturday booed his vague response regarding his interest in fighting Benavidez next.

In the post-victory ring, Alvarez argued that he has satisfied all of the other opponents’ requests for years and now deserves to choose who he wants.

“It’s hard not to blame him,” Algeria said of Alvarez, a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer. “But as fight fans, we all want that one big fight.

“He said himself, ‘We’ve just got to make the right money.’ He’s playing chess. He’s very calculated. If he decides to do it, he’ll bankroll his retirement beautifully.”