Oscar De La Hoya is convinced that Canelo Alvarez is “scared” of fighting David Benavidez and is not happy about it.
(Credit: Golden Boy/ Cris Esqueda)
In an interview today, Golden Boy promoter De La Hoya complained about Canelo pricing himself out of a fight against Benavidez by asking for $200 million, which he feels is a sign that he doesn’t want that matchup.
Benavidez’s Move to 175
De La Hoya feels it will help the sport if Canelo fights Benavidez because it would attract much interest. However, it’s already too late for that fight because Benavidez is campaigning at 175 now. Benavidez already showed that he’s not on the level of the top guys in that weight class.
If Canelo is going to fight a light heavyweight, he might as well aim for the best in that weight class against the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight.
“No, we haven’t discussed anything with Turki, but Turki wants to make the best fights, and that’s a breath of fresh air. That’s music to my ears,” said Oscar De La Hoya to Fight Hub TV.
“Now, you have fighters pricing themselves out and basically don’t want to fight each other. That, to me, as a promoter, is the worst thing I can hear from a fighter. ‘I’m pricing myself out.’ Just like Canelo vs. Benavidez. Why can you not give us Canelo vs. Benavidez? Why? Canelo, why?”
Canelo says he wants a certain price before he’ll fight Benavidez, and that hasn’t happened. His thing is he doesn’t feel that Benavidez brings much to the table other than rehydrating 25 lbs up to cruiserweight on the night of the fight.
If Canelo is going to fight a cruiserweight, he wants to be paid more. That makes sense. Benavidez would expect to be paid more if he were fighting a heavyweight like Anthony Joshua.
Canelo’s “Arrogance”
“You’re demanding $200 million. Come on, dude. Stop being arrogant,” said De La Hoya. “So, basically, Canelo doesn’t want to give us the good fights. When you have Turki, who is making the best fights. Who literally wants to make the best fights, and he’s forking over the bill? Be my guest. Please, make more. It’s great for boxing.”
Turki hasn’t been pushing for a Canelo vs. Benavidez fight. He wants Canelo vs. Terence Crawford, which isn’t happening because Turki chose not to pursue the match after the Nebraska natives’ poor performance against WBA 154-lb champion Israil Madrimov last Saturday.
“He’s literally been saving boxing. This is what I’ve been talking about all along,” said De La Hoya about Turki. “He’s a savior to the sport. He has deep pockets, obviously, and he wants to make the best fights happen. Imagine all the best fights happening. Imagine if Canelo and Benavidez gets made. That’s the Super Bowl of boxing. Boxing is on the rise. Canelo, don’t screw it up for us.”
Again, Turki isn’t offering to finance a fight between Canelo and Benavidez. He just wants the Crawford fight, which is hard to understand because he’s not super popular. If Canelo-Benavidez is going to happen, it’ll need to be someone with deep pockets willing to meet Canelo’s price.
“In other words, ‘I don’t want to fight,’” said De La Hoya about Canelo telling Turki Alalshikh that he doesn’t like the way he’s talking to him, and that if they are going to make a deal, it’s going to be his way.”
It’s no longer a big deal that Canelo won’t fight Benavidez because the two are fighting in different weight classes now. Benavidez is in a different galaxy than Canelo, and they’re too far apart for that match to be made.
“I thought I would never say this, but Canelo is scared. We’ve been begging Canelo, ‘Please, we want this fight.’ I want it as a fan,” said De La Hoya. “I want this fight because it’s a great fight for the sport of boxing, for the sport we love. Turki is making the best fights, and Canelo’s not giving us the best fights.”
It’s late in Canelo’s career, and he wants a certain amount of money for him to agree to fight Benavidez. That’s not happening, so it’s a waste of time to continue yapping about it.
“I don’t [understand] because I fought everybody,” said De La Hoya.
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