BENAVIDEZ (AND CANELO) || FIGHTHYPE.COM

This week, a monstrous efficiency from the Mexican Monster makes for a monster-sized David Benavidez-themed Mail Sack. So, let’s get into it:

Canelo vs. Benavidez

Hey Paul,

Benavidez V. Canelo appears like an insane struggle if it really goes down, however I’m sensing a little bit of him taking the straightforward route on this a part of his profession. His final two fights (Charlo and Ryder) felt very underwhelming by way of an precise problem which perhaps makes him look higher than he really is on this a part of his profession…which makes me apprehensive for Canelo, as a result of he didn’t actually look that nice in these fights and Benavidez seems to be the half.

I sensed a giant bounce in enchancment from his final struggle with Plant. From head motion to footwork, Benavidez, he’s solely getting higher.  Perhaps it’s simply recency bias, however I’m curious should you imagine he can beat Benavidez and hand him that first L. Proper now, I’m cut up on the result

Lastly, RIP Showtime Boxing. I do know I shouldn’t care concerning the cable supplier, however a lot of epic moments on SHO. I hear talks of Amazon Prime taking over PBC. Hope to nonetheless hear Jimmy Lennon Jr too – “itsssss PRIMETIME!”

– Alexis

Hey Alexis.

Actually, I feel David Benavidez has all the time been this good. I’ve been writing for years now about how he has this diploma of old fashioned nuance and the way he has far more depth than your typical strain fighter. Persons are simply taking discover now, largely as a result of he’s acting on greater phases in opposition to larger degree opposition. And, like a number of the greats, he’s really getting higher and sharper as his degree of opposition will get larger. 

I imagine Canelo Alvarez is in a world of hassle if/when he faces Benavidez. There are two fundamental causes I say that. 

First, Benavidez presents a really powerful stylistic matchup for Alvarez. The lengthy and tall Benavidez incorporates his bodily attributes into his offense-minded type, protecting opposition underneath strain and reacting slightly than appearing. I see him doing the identical in opposition to Alvarez, utilizing his four-inch attain benefit and six-inch edge in top to his profit in opposition to a Canelo who must struggle and struggle to maintain Benavidez off him in addition to battle fiercely to get inside and launch his personal offense.

Second, as you touched on, Canelo might now not be THE Canelo. His greatest days might have come and gone and what we see now, at 33 years of age, is a bodily post-prime fighter who lacks the starvation of his youthful self and, truthfully, could also be undersized in opposition to somebody like Benavidez. Add these components to what I discussed above and we could also be seeing the proper state of affairs for a torch-passing beatdown. 

Alvarez remains to be an elite fighter and it’s not solely unlikely that he may discover a answer to Benavidez’s type, skills, and mindset. I wouldn’t guess on it, although.

Yeah, I’m not a nostalgia man, however Showtime had an ideal run and the tip of Showtime Boxing is unquestionably an finish to an period. We’ll see the place the fighters there find yourself subsequent. I don’t see any of them panicking, so one thing could also be on the horizon. 

Canelo vs. Benavidez?

Watching Benavidez v. Andrade was bitter candy. On the finish of the struggle you’re excited as a result of it was a helluva efficiency from an ideal fighter who has confirmed he deserves to tackle the P4P greatest. However the frequent sense facet kicks in and also you lose all hope as a result of latest historical past tells you Canelo v Benavidez ain’t taking place! 

Do you assume boxing can survive this decade in the event that they proceed on this path? How determined is the survival of boxing depending on large fights being made ahead of later? I feel we’re at a breaking level right here within the USA! Boxing may stay related in Europe, The Center East and Asia. However the street is as slim as its ever been on this facet of the pond. 

– Na’-il Rahman

Hey Na’-il.

Canelo is a brilliant man. He has to know simply how near a suicide mission a Benavidez struggle could be. He additionally has to understand how firmly his again is up in opposition to the wall on the subject of having to tackle this problem. NOT preventing Benavidez would make for a everlasting stain on his legacy and, in lots of eyes, it will outline his standing in historical past. And Alvarez, extra so than most of his contemporaries, has obsessed over his legacy and place in historical past. It’ll be extremely attention-grabbing to see how he conducts his enterprise these subsequent few months. I’m not as uncertain about Canelo-Benavidez taking place as you’re. I’m really 50-50 on the struggle going down, even when it doesn’t occur subsequent. 

However I see your level on the subject of the massive fights not being made or being delay, virtually to the purpose of not mattering anymore. It’s a matter of economics and of a typically unhealthy enterprise mannequin the game has embraced. IMO, that is really a product of boxing’s success inside its area of interest. Boxing’s followers are loyal and prepared to pay for product, however that technique of constructing followers pay an increasing number of for fights has been shrinking the bottom over a long time. Now, we’re at some extent the place the one ones shopping for the boxing product are the hardcore followers who purchase into all the things anyway. The top result’s that the cash for the massive, dangerous fights– with only a few exceptions– shouldn’t be considerably greater than what could be made for lesser, much less dangerous fights. So, why take that danger? It’s crucial that boxing finds methods to develop the bottom and appeal to the “casuals” to its occasions or we’ll simply be seeing extra of the identical on the subject of a number of the higher fights. Different markets might not be struggling by means of these points as a result of they’re both new markets or smaller markets. If/When their enterprise grows and/or settles into the enterprise realities the American market has to take care of, we’ll see the identical points pop up with them. 

I don’t assume boxing will ever die within the States. However, as a loyal fan, you must come to phrases with the truth that you’ll be paying an increasing number of (doubtless, for much less and fewer) till/until there’s some form of main restructuring of the game’s enterprise mannequin. 

Canelo vs. Benavidez!

Hey Paul,

Hope you and the household had an exquisite Thanksgiving Vacation! I learn this week’s NFTBU, nice stuff.

Like virtually everybody else, I hope that we lastly get to see Canelo and the “Mexican Monster.” Benavidez’s final two fights have been an enormous step up in competitors that may’t be missed. What I like most about Benavidez is that as a lot as he desires the Canelo struggle, he isn’t sitting round ready. He is going after the subsequent most suitable choice. Personally, I feel we’re seeing his transition into stardom, even with out Canelo. He is making his personal lane and doing it impressively.

If the struggle doesn’t get made in 2024, I would not be stunned if a few of Canelo’s Mexican fanbase turn out to be Benavidez followers.

Canelo, in case you are studying this, the younger man (Benavidez) has just about achieved all the things you have requested of him to get his shot. Because the proud Mexican Warrior we expect you’re, please don’t cheat this man out of this chance that he has labored so laborious for.

And to the WBC, disgrace on you as a company for placing your personal greed above the fighters and followers by not forcing these fighters to honor their necessary commitments.

IT’S TIME!

Regards.

– Reggie Cannon

Hey Reggie.

Joyful Thanksgiving. Thanks for studying. 

Agree. Agree. Agree. There’s nothing extra I can add to what you simply stated. Canelo-Benavidez, now.

Bought a query (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The very best of the very best will get included within the weekly mailbag section proper right here at FightHype. Ship your stuff right here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.