Eddie Hearn says Canelo Alvarez is not avoiding a showdown with David Benavidez and insists the Mexican finds that narrative comical.
Canelo has reportedly cut ties with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions [PBC] one fight into a three-fight deal after failing to agree terms for a May fight and is now likely to return to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, who have promoted six of his last eight bouts.
The 33-year-old already comfortably decisioned Jermell Charlo in September and reportedly required a guaranteed purse of at least $35m to defend his undisputed super middleweight titles against Jermell’s twin brother and reigning WBC middleweight titlist, Jermall Charlo on May 4 in Las Vegas.
According to boxing insider, Dan Rafael, Haymon was prepared to pay Alvarez his guarantee, providing he agreed to face Benavidez in September, who was apparently not part of the three-fight plan PBC had originally signed Alvarez to.
Undefeated WBC interim super middleweight champion, Benavidez claimed a unanimous decision win over Caleb Plant last March and battered Demetrius Andrade into a sixth round stoppage in November, to increase the public clamour for a Canelo-Benavidez showdown.
Premier Boxing Champions
However, Canelo so far has not granted the Phoenix man a shot at his belts and has not been ordered as of yet by the WBC to face him, with president Mauricio Sulaiman telling Pro Boxing Fans earlier this month that the 27-year-old will become mandatory challenger in March.
Hearn, who has touted Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia as potential opponents for Alvarez, should he return to his stable, has rubbished the idea that the Mexican great is purposely steering clear of a Benavidez match-up and says he would look to make that fight should he decide to re-sign with him.
Speaking to a group of reporters at the Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia press conference on Tuesday, Hearn said: “When I’ve talked to Saul about Benavidez.
“The fact that people think he won’t fight him, he actually laughs.
“This is a guy, he’s fought everybody.
“He’ll fight Benavidez and we’ll do that deal to fight Benavidez, but he wants activity and he wants a plan.
“Benavidez ain’t happening in May.”
When Alvarez put pen to paper on a deal with PBC, Haymon’s company was aligned with SHOWTIME, however in October the network revealed that it would stop airing boxing after December, following 37 years in the business.
Haymon moved his stable over to Amazon Prime and hoped Alvarez’s huge star power would attract viewers to the streaming service.
Undisputed welterweight champion, Terence Crawford said he’d be willing to move up three weight classes to challenge Canelo, who reportedly declined the prospect of facing the 36-year-old.
