The panorama in the intermediate and high divisions of professional boxing continues to register debates around the commercial priorities of its figures. Mexican boxer Saúl Canelo Álvarez definitively ruled out the viability of holding a confrontation against David Benavídez in the medium term, arguing that the constant mentions of his name by the undefeated challenger respond solely to a financial interest.

For Canelo Álvarez, the background of these public challenges does not currently have a real sporting justification, mainly due to the disparity in the weight categories in which both athletes develop their camps.

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The statements of the fighter from Guadalajara come at a time of restructuring for his own work team, which focuses on recovering ground in the international classifications of the 168 pounds.

In the talk held with the specialized media Inside The Ring, Canelo Álvarez argued that his counterpart's behavior is due to an interest in securing high financial purses that would otherwise be difficult to obtain in the cruiserweight or light heavyweight division. "In every fight he challenges me, always looking for the payday. There is a reason why they always challenge me," declared the boxer from Jalisco.

The conditions of the past at 168 pounds

The technical justification presented by the Mexican fighter's corner is based on the history of activities recorded when both competitors coincided within the super middleweight division.

During that period, the Guadalajara's main goal was to unify the crowns of the four governing bodies of the discipline, an objective for which he had to consecutively defeat the current monarchs of each entity.

The boxer from Guadalajara explained the reasons why the fight did not take place when the physical conditions were equivalent for the two athletes. "When we were both in the 168-pound category, I fought against all the champions of the division. I asked myself: Why did he never fight against those champions? If at that time I had been champion, I would have fought against him, because my goal was to be undisputed champion, but right now it is impossible," Canelo Álvarez pointed out.

David Benavídez's transition to higher weight categories represents the regulatory and physical obstacle that, according to the perspective of the Mexican's camp, closes any possibility of future negotiation.

Having obtained belts at 175 and 200 pounds, the boxer of American origin is very far from the tonnage handled by the former undisputed monarch of 168 pounds.

The return to Saudi Arabia and the future of Benavídez

Canelo Álvarez's present is focused exclusively on the commitment he will hold next October in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

On this evening, the Mexican will assume the role of official challenger when competing for the World Boxing Council super middleweight title, a belt currently held by the boxer of Cameroonian origin and nationalized French Christian Mbilli.

A victory in the Middle East would allow Canelo Álvarez to regain a portion of the championship he lost in September of the previous year against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. Regarding the physical status of the Mexican-American and his escalation in tonnage, the former undisputed monarch concluded: "He can fight heavyweights. I understand why he challenges me, or why they challenge me, there is no problem."

For his part, David Benavídez extended his undefeated professional record to 32 victories after beating Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez during the course of last May. With the option of facing the Jalisco native completely ruled out, the promoter Premier Boxing Champions plans to direct the undefeated fighter towards a total unification duel at 200 pounds against the head of the World Boxing Council, Noel Mikaelian.