LAS VEGAS — Fighters fight. And so David Benavidez will pause his pursuit of Canelo Alvarez and step into the ring Saturday night — moving up a weight class — to take on Oleksandr Gvozdyk in the 100th fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
But … Benavidez will still talk about Alvarez.
The undefeated super middleweight/light heavyweight thinks the sport’s fans want him to.
“The more people ask me about Canelo, the bigger that fight gets,” Benavidez, 27, told The Athletic on Monday. “This is the pinnacle of the boxing game. For me to be mentioned over and over again with Canelo, that means I am doing something right in my career. I mean, he is the face of boxing. And I am next.
“I am a little frustrated that that fight isn’t happening yet, but I am going to keep winning and I am not going anywhere. Canelo and I will definitely see each other in the ring soon.”
Benavidez is making his light-heavyweight debut against Gvozdyk, his former sparring partner, in Saturday’s co-feature to Gervonta Davis versus Frank Martin. Benavidez and Davis are both 7-to-1 favorites.
🥊 It’s gonna be a slugfest! @Gervontaa and @Benavidez300 are locked and loaded for SATURDAY NIGHT. Stay glued, ’cause they’re bringing the heat. 🔥#TankMartin and #BenavidezGvozdyk SATURDAY on PBC PPV on @PrimeVideo | Buy NOW: https://t.co/fUt1hkee6B#PBConPrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/l5zk6rwx4k
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) June 14, 2024
“I will just take over at 175 pounds until Canelo is ready,” Benavidez said.
Benavidez moved up from 168 pounds after Alvarez decided to fight Jaime Munguia on May 4 instead of Benavidez. Alvarez, 33, says he is not ducking Benavidez. He wants $200 million to fight him, which many people took to mean it will not happen. But Benavidez is not so sure.
“Tyson Fury just made $145 million in his last fight, so that’s kind of in the alleyway of what Canelo is asking for,” Benavidez said. “I first thought that Canelo was scared of losing to me and having another Mexican take all of his shine, but now I think there is more of a realistic chance that the fight can happen.
“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and wait and see.”
Benavidez is coming off convincing wins over David Lemieux, Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade, and fans enjoy the Phoenix fighter’s aggressive style and power.
“I take a lot of pride in being a Mexican fighter,” Benavidez said. “That means something. That means you’re a gladiator who fights with his heart to entertain the fans. It’s going to be another great performance on Saturday night.”
(Photo of David Benavidez: Steve Marcus / Getty Images)
