Add Daniel Jacobs to the expanding list of people who believe Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is ducking David Benavidez.
The two-time middleweight champion – who lost a unanimous decision to Canelo back in 2019 – is of the view that Alvarez (61-2, 39 KOs) is doing everything possible to avoid Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) having considered the qualities possessed by the latter.
Jacobs joins the likes of legendary Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Andre Ward, and Paulie Malignaggi, among others, to criticize the 33-year-old’s decision to avoid what has been described by many as the biggest 168-pounds fight today.
Talking about a possible Canelo-Benavidez fight, the 37-year-old Jacobs, who is making a ring return on Saturday against Shane Mosley Jr. after two years out, said that even though he would not want to choose opponents for Canelo, he believes it is time for the Mexican superstar to make the Benavidez fight happen.
“I do think he is ducking him [Benavidez],” Jacobs said in an interview with BoxingScene. “Cos, he looks at the pros and cons, and you look at what Benavidez has over Canelo, speed, power, athleticism, and in his mind, Benavidez is beating him and, in his mind, he probably knows that as well.
“I wish every fighter the best of luck, I’m not sure which kind of fight they want to take so I can come into that. May the best fighter win. I don’t know how it plays out cos both fighters are good.
“Obviously, Canelo is a Hall of Famer, so I’m sure he will be the favorite but I will say that may the best fighter win.”
Canelo is a unified 168 pounds champion who holds all four titles in the super middleweight division. He has held the belts since his 11th round TKO victory over Caleb Plant in November 2021.
The boxing great has had a stellar career having faced other big names in the sport such as Mayweather, Gennadiy Golovkin, Billy Joe Saunders, Dmitrii Bivol, Jermell Charlo, and Jaime Munguia among others. However, Canelo is yet to take on a challenge from the undefeated Benavidez.
Meanwhile, throughout Canelo’s criticisms, the Mexican remains unfazed and said his critics would continue mentioning other names should he fight and beat Benavidez.
In his last ring outing, Canelo was criticized for choosing to defend his titles against Jaime Munguia despite calls for him to slug it out with the undefeated Benavidez. With disappointment in his eyes, Benavidez moved up to 175 pounds to face Oleksandr Gvozdyk in a WBC interim light heavyweight championship fight.
When asked to comment on Canelo possibly facing either Edgar Berlanga or Chris Eubank Jr, Jacobs refused to predict the outcome of such fights by simply saying “may the best fighter win”. He, however, said he would be ready to face Benavidez when the opportunity avails itself.
“Of course, I will. I’ve never ducked anybody, I will fight anyone if it makes sense. I mean I know he is not super middleweight now, so I don’t think I can move to 175 pounds.”
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