Speaking in the ring, Benavidez asked the crowd directly if they wanted to see him fight Canelo Alvarez, pointing out that Canelo was in attendance. The reaction was loud, and Benavidez leaned into it, saying the fight is one that shouldn’t be left on the table.
“I have respect for Canelo. He’s a great champion, but I’m a great champion too. Let’s do it,” Benavidez said.
The callout wasn’t limited to one name. When asked about what comes next, Benavidez also targeted Dmitry Bivol, calling him the top opponent he wants.
“Bivol is the number one on my hit list,” he said. “He’s a great competitor, great champion, but I’m a great champion too. I just want to test myself every fight.”
Benavidez said he is open to fighting at different weights, noting he still holds a light heavyweight title while coming off his first fight at cruiserweight. That flexibility leaves multiple paths open, depending on which opponent is willing.
Benavidez delivered them on Cinco de Mayo weekend, traditionally one of the biggest stages in boxing, and did so immediately after a high-profile win.
Whether either fight materializes remains unclear. Benavidez has been linked to Canelo in the past without progress, while Bivol remains one of the top names at 175 pounds.
Still, Benavidez made his position clear. He wants the biggest fights available, and he put two of the sport’s top champions on notice right after his win.
The distance between Canelo and Benavidez has never been wider. Benavidez just unified titles at cruiserweight while Canelo Alvarez is preparing for Christian Mbilli at super middleweight. That’s a 32-pound gap, which in boxing terms is an ocean.
Canelo is 35 and coming off a rough stretch. The loss to Terence Crawford, the elbow surgery, and a year-long layoff mean we aren’t looking at the prime Canelo anymore.
If Benavidez wants to be the “Monster” at 200 pounds, calling out Jai Opetaia is the real alpha move. Opetaia is the king of the division and just secured the Zuffa Boxing title against Brandon Glanton. A Benavidez vs. Opetaia clash would be a pure “Best vs. Best” fight without the 30-pound weight-drain drama or the “chasing a payday” optics.
However, Benavidez knows that Canelo’s name is the only one that guarantees a specific kind of immortality and a massive check. Calling him out on Cinco de Mayo weekend, with Canelo in the front row, was about keeping his name attached to the biggest star in the sport, even if the logistics make it nearly impossible.
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