Deontay Wilder Strongly Favors David Benavidez Over Canelo Alvarez
A fight that observers are really starting to demand is a super middleweight showdown between undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” (58-2-2, 39 KOs) Alvarez and two-time WBC champion David “The Red Flag” Benavidez Jr (27-0, 23 KOs). More than a few folks in the boxing community feel that Benavidez stands a good shot of defeating Alvarez. One of those folks happens to be Deontay “Bomb Squad” Wilder.
During an exclusive interview with EsNews, the former WBC heavyweight champion was asked who had the advantage in a fight between Benavidez and Alvarez. Wilder is siding with The Red Flag.
“Canelo is too small for him. That’s an easy fight for David, in my opinion. I think he’s going to wear him down even quicker; I think Caleb (Plant) gave Benavidez more of a challenge than Canelo would give him, in my opinion. I think Canelo is way too small, but who knows? This is boxing. You never know until you know.”
SIZE MATTERS
Wilder was in attendance for *Benavidez’s unanimous decision victory over ex-IBF 168-pound champion Caleb Plant on March 25. So, the hard-hitting heavyweight has a first-hand account of Benavidez’s abilities.
Benavidez is big for the division. With that size, along with his fast hands, punching power and underrated defense, the 26-year-old has established himself as a force in the division. Currently ranked sixth in the 3kingsboxing.com Top Ten fighter rankings, Alvarez is still considered to be elite. But is the 32-year-old a fighter on the decline?
Canelo has been out of action since suffering a unanimous decision loss to reigning light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in May 2022. At this stage of his career, Alvarez fights more like a patient stalker – willing to sit back and strike only when the opportunity permits. Canelo is no longer the active, hyper-aggressive fighter of his youth. If he adopts that zen-like patient style against Benavidez, he would get outworked.
Of course, all of this is speculation. The only way to know who is the better fighter between Alvarez and Benavidez is for them to fight one another. Whether it will ever happen remains an open question.
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