Eddie Hearn believes David ‘El Monstruo’ Benavídez 27-0 (23) will deliver the type of eye-catching performance against Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade 32-0 (19) that will earn him a shot at the undisputed super middleweight championship held by Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39).
The pair of undefeated boxers will clash at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 25.
“When you look at Canelo, you now gotta look at where the real challenges are coming from, right?” the Matchroom Boxing chief told FightHype. “Benavidez against Andrade, good fight. I expect Benavidez to stop Demetrius Andrade. And when he does, I think he’s gonna 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 has gotta be right, of course, but he’ll still fight them.”
The 33-year-old Alvarez had no shortage of suitors but the question of late is who can give him a good challenge at 168-pounds.
In his last bout two months ago Alvarez faced former undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo 35-2-1 (19). In a disappointing performance, the 33-year-old Charlo box conservatively and appeared more concerned about surviving the 12-round distance than winning the fight.
The one-sided nature of the bout, which Alvarez won by scores of 118-109, 118-109 and 119-108, can people pause to reconsider just how viable a fight against undisputed welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford 40-0 (31) would actually be.
“Too many people are too passive and disappointing against Canelo Alvarez,” Hearn said. “You know, and they’re kinda like – look at Charlo. It was almost like, you know, I was gonna say disgraceful, but I feel like that’s disrespectful to a fighter. But it was like you’re gettin’ 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 gonna go in. And that’s why I look at, I think Caleb Plant did really well. I thought Billy Joe Saunders did well. Like these are guys that didn’t really show any respect or fear, you know?
“And I feel like Benavidez is one of those guys. And I think Crawford would be another one of those guys. Crawford’s a winner.
“Crawford 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 gonna get beat – Crawford’s only gonna 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 Alvarez.”
