Why Isn't Canelo Fighting Benavidez? Analyzing The Reasons Behind A Potential Mexican Showdown

Kenji Nakamura

4 min read

Post on May 05, 2025

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Canelo Álvarez's Promotional Obligations and Business Decisions

Canelo Álvarez's career is meticulously managed, prioritizing fights that maximize his financial returns and maintain his position atop the boxing world. Several factors linked to his promotional commitments significantly influence the possibility of a Canelo vs. Benavidez fight.

Contractual Agreements and Exclusive Deals: Canelo's lucrative contracts play a crucial role. His long-term deal with DAZN, for example, grants the streaming service significant control over his fight schedule and opponent selection.

• DAZN's desire for high-profile, commercially viable bouts could lead to prioritizing fights against established names over potentially riskier, but equally lucrative, matchups.
• Other sponsorship deals and endorsements further influence the choice of opponents and timing of fights, maximizing Canelo's overall earning potential.
• The financial incentives offered by DAZN and other sponsors for specific fights often outweigh the potential rewards of a Canelo vs. Benavidez clash.

Strategic Opponent Selection for Maintaining Ranking and Profitability: Canelo's team carefully selects opponents to minimize risk while maximizing financial gains and maintaining his top ranking. A fight against Benavidez, while undeniably exciting, presents significant challenges.

• Benavidez's aggressive fighting style presents a higher risk of defeat for Canelo, potentially jeopardizing his undefeated streak and marketability.
• Canelo’s recent fights have strategically targeted opponents who present a lower risk of upsetting his record while still offering compelling matchups for fans and generating significant revenue.
• The perceived risk versus reward for a Benavidez fight is a crucial factor in Canelo's team's decision-making process.

David Benavidez's Career Trajectory and Challenges

While Benavidez possesses the skill and power to challenge Canelo, his career path has faced hurdles that complicate a potential matchup.

Past Controversies and Their Impact on Negotiations: Benavidez's past failed drug tests have cast a shadow over his career, impacting negotiations and making promoters hesitant.

• The failed tests, while arguably unintentional, raise concerns about his commitment to clean competition, influencing the perception of his risk profile.
• These controversies affect sponsorship deals and overall marketability, making him a less attractive opponent from a purely business perspective.
• The reputational damage associated with the controversies makes it harder for Benavidez to secure favorable promotional deals and attract high-profile sponsors.

Finding a Suitable Promotional Partner and Negotiating Power: Benavidez lacks the strong promotional backing enjoyed by Canelo. This disparity in negotiating power significantly hinders his ability to secure a fight with the undisputed champion.

• Canelo is represented by powerful promotional groups that provide him with leverage and control over negotiations.
• Benavidez’s relative lack of promotional muscle makes it difficult for him to command the same level of control and financial compensation in a potential Canelo fight.
• Securing a favorable deal that satisfies both Benavidez's demands and the interests of Canelo's promotional team presents a significant hurdle.

The Weight Class Conundrum

The weight class presents yet another obstacle. Canelo typically fights at super middleweight, while Benavidez operates at super middleweight and even light heavyweight.

Negotiating the Weight and Terms of the Fight: Agreeing on a suitable weight class requires compromise, and this can prove difficult.

• A weight discrepancy can significantly impact the dynamics of the fight, potentially favouring one boxer over the other.
• Finding a weight that suits both fighters while ensuring a fair and competitive contest is a complex negotiation.
• Any compromise on weight could require concessions from both sides, potentially impacting the financial terms and other aspects of the fight agreement.

Conclusion

The absence of a Canelo vs. Benavidez fight stems from a complex interplay of factors: Canelo’s carefully managed career and promotional obligations, Benavidez’s past controversies and promotional limitations, and the challenges in agreeing on a suitable weight class. While the fight remains a tantalizing prospect, overcoming these hurdles requires significant shifts in promotional landscapes, career trajectories, and perhaps even a willingness to compromise on both sides. Will we ever see this clash of Mexican boxing titans? Share your thoughts on why a "Canelo vs. Benavidez" fight, or a "Canelo Benavidez matchup," hasn't happened yet! Follow reputable boxing news outlets for the latest updates on this potential mega-fight.