Former super middleweight champion David Benavidez has been linked with a host of names since his commanding points victory over Caleb Plant this past March.
Jaime Munguia, Canelo, Gilberto Ramirez and David Morrell Jr. among others have all been linked to Benavidez who holds the Interim version of Saul Alvarez’s WBC world title.
Despite all parties falling under the PBC banner, Canelo opted to square off with fellow undisputed champion Jermell Charlo instead of facing Benavidez and a host of other high level names. His promoter Sampson Lewkowicz stated once again in the early hours of the morning that “a fight with Canelo will never happen."
However, It has been widely reported that Benavidez has found a dance partner in former two-weight world champion Demetrius Andrade. The undefeated American returned to action at the beginning of the year with a wide decision victory over Demond Nicholson after 14 months away from the ring. He previously defended his WBO middleweight world title with a second round stoppage over Jason Quigley in November 2021.
“Most likely it is Andrade, but the deal isn’t signed yet.” Lewkowicz said in an exclusive interview for ProBox TV. “We are looking for a venue, the right venue for that fight. Look, nobody wants to fight Andrade because he is very dangerous and he has very good movement. So to prove that Benavidez will fight anybody, it is like when Sergio Martinez fought Paul Williams. Nobody wanted to fight him, so he fought him, he lost when he drew, then he knocked him out in the rematch. I have fighters that will fight everyone. This is the case again, nobody wanted to fight Andrade but Benavidez will fight anyone.”
In our last conversation the storied promoter had hinted at Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) moving up to 175 pounds in the search of finding a worthy adversary.
“Very soon will have nobody to fight at super middleweight, he can’t go down.” Expressed Lewkowicz. “He can’t go to 160, so we look at 175. Besides that, the likes of Canelo will never happen. I will not say that Canelo himself is afraid to face him, it is up to the people around him to say why he doesn’t want to fight Benavidez, it would be the biggest payday in his career. It will never happen though.
“If you remember Roy Jones Jr. Vs Dariusz Michalczewski, that fight never happened. Everyone wanted to see that fight but it didn’t happen. There have been many fights in the past that have not happened for one reason or the other. Sometimes it is the fighter himself who doesn’t want to fight, they want to finish their career with the fights they want. And sometimes it is the management that does not allow it. I don’t know if it the management that doesn’t want the fight or Canelo?”
