Overview
- David Benavidez says he will only face Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez at 175 pounds, asserting he now holds the leverage after being elevated to WBC champion at light heavyweight.
- He is slated to defend his WBC title against Anthony Yarde in Riyadh in November, keeping his focus on campaigns at 175.
- Benavidez told The Ring that Álvarez is afraid to fight him and argued Canelo missed his window to beat him.
- He expressed little interest in pursuing Terence Crawford at super middleweight, stating his targets are Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, and potential cruiserweight options.
- Saudi adviser Turki Al‑Sheikh publicly questioned whether Benavidez can still make 168, a suggestion that drew objections from Crawford’s team, and separate reporting indicates a Benavidez–Bivol unification could be ordered in the near term.