Eddie Hearn expects undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39) to defend his world titles against David ‘El Bandera Roja’ Benavidez 27-0 (23).
The undefeated 26-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona is slated to face 35-year-old Providence, Rhode Island southpaw Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade 32-0 (19) next at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 25.
It is a fight Alvarez’s former promoter Hearn expects Benavidez to win.
“When you look at Canelo, you got to look at where the real challenges are coming from,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said to FightHype. “Benavidez against Andrade is a good fight. I expect Benavidez to stop Demetrius Andrade and when he does, I think he’s going to make a real claim to fight Canelo Alvarez and I think Canelo at that point will take the fight.
“I think it will be that big that he will take it and I don’t think he’s afraid of David Benavidez. Canelo isn’t afraid of anyone and he will fight everybody. The deal’s got to be right of course, but he’ll still fight them.”
Mexican superstar Alvarez, 33, is coming off a dominant point win over former undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo 35-2-1 (19). The 33-year-old from Houston, Texas was widely criticised for not doing enough to try to win.
“Too many people are too passive and disappointed with Canelo Alvarez,” said Hearn. “Look at Charlo. I was going to say disgraceful, but I feel like that’s disrespectful to a fighter. But it was like you’re getting whatever, he got $8 million, $10 million. You didn’t really try and win the fight, did you?
“So you need young, hungry fighters that are going to go in. I think Caleb Plant did really well [against Alvarez]. I thought Billy Joe Saunders did well. These are guys who didn’t really show any respect or fear and I feel like Benavidez is one of those guys.”
Another name being bandied about for Alvarez is undisputed welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford 40-0 (31), but the appetite for that bout has waned after Charlo’s recent performance.
“I think Crawford would be another one of those guys,” Hearn continued. “Crawford’s a winner and would do everything to try and win that fight. He’d take chances, but I think he’s too small and I think you’re going to get beat.
“Crawford’s only going to get beat by being too small and I think against Canelo Alvarez, you’re not talking about two divisions like Charlo, you’re talking about three divisions. And as good as he is and as good as his movement is, I just don’t think he beats Canelo.”
Hearn added that he doesn’t see anyone beating Alvarez at this stage of his career.
“I feel like physically he was better, mentally he was in a good place [against Charlo] and if he’s good physically, I think he’ll beat Benavidez,” he said. “I think he’ll beat Crawford, but I’m biased because I love Canelo.”
