Amid Fight Cancellation, David Benavidez ‘Wouldn’t Be Surprised’ If Terence Crawford Wins

David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is rooting for Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs).

The boxing community and fans were recently left disappointed after the highly anticipated potential showdown between Crawford and pound-for-pound king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) was called off. This cancellation came at a time when rumors were afloat about the possibility of a fight between Alvarez and Jake Paul, with many blaming Paul for the cancellation. However, prior to this cancellation, Benavidez, who had long eyed an Alvarez showdown, was almost certain that Crawford would have won.

Talking to Ariel Helwani on his show, Benavidez highlighted that it was a big fight for Crawford and that he was looking forward to witnessing the duo fight. “I think it’s more important for Crawford than anybody, but I think if anybody can beat Canelo, I think Crawford could. I think it’s just the size plays a massive difference. But it’s a good fight. I have no bad feelings toward that fight,” he said.

While Benavidez is disappointed that he did not get to face Alvarez himself, he stated that he does not wish to “seem like a hater.”Moreover, even though Alvarez is a more experienced fighter, Benavidez feels that Crawford has a good shot at victory owing to his discipline and ring IQ, so much so that he gave him a 7 out of 10.

“Crawford, when a person has a big IQ like that, if you do enough weights and you stay working for a long time, you have a puncher’s chance. You can definitely make the other guy uncomfortable and hurt him a couple times. Crawford’s a really good fighter. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins,” he said.

“Give Him The Money And He’ll fight”

The fight being called off might not have come as a surprise for Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn. Talking on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel, Hearn revealed that Alvarez had always expressed interest in fighting Paul.

“Whenever I’ve spoken to Saul about Jake Paul, he’s always gone, ‘Pay me the money and I’ll fight him.’ Saul is so transparent. That’s why I love dealing with Canelo. Zero bullsh*t,” he said. “Give him the money and he’ll fight. That’s it!”

However, Hearn added that money is the only factor behind Alvarez’s interest. “I don’t like a lot of things that Jake Paul has done if he fights Canelo Alvarez, and obviously, the main reason why he’s doing it is for a lot of money,” he said.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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