Former light heavyweight champion Andre Ward has reacted sharply to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s $200 million demands for a potential match with David Benavidez saying, “You can’t use that line!“.
Alvarez, a multi-divisional world champion, has reportedly placed a $200 million price tag on a super middleweight face-off with Benavidez. In the boxing world, such demands are typically either a bargaining tool or a sign that a fighter is uninterested in a proposed fight. Ward, who retired undefeated in 2017, seems to hold the latter view.
Unimpressed with what he perceives as an evasion tactic, Ward said, “You can’t use that line!“. The decorated champion argues that if Alvarez genuinely wants the fight, then such a hefty price demand is unreasonable.
Interestingly, Alvarez’s demand is not unprecedented in the boxing world. Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, for instance, received a massive $280 million for a single fight against Manny Pacquiao. However, Ward believes that Canelo is merely using the high price tag as a ‘smokescreen’ to avoid a potential fight with Benavidez.
Ward, a two-time world champion, is no stranger to high-profile bouts. He hung up his gloves with an unblemished record of 32 wins from 32 fights, and he remains a respected voice in the sport. He has consistently encouraged fighters to face the best opponents available to prove their worth, even at the risk of coming up short.
This is not the first time that Ward has criticized Alvarez’s actions. In December 2020, Ward took issue with Canelo’s lack of fighting elite opposition in their prime. He cited Canelo’s fights against the likes of Callum Smith and Sergey Kovalev as examples of battles against opponents who weren’t at their peak.
With Alvarez demanding an exorbitant fee for the prospective fight, he is simultaneously signaling that the fight isn’t a very high priority for him. This is contrary to the public demand for Canelo to take on Benavidez and prove that he is indeed the best in the super middleweight category. Benavidez is 24-0 and ranked as one of the top contenders in the division.
For boxing fans and pundits alike, a Canelo-Benavidez fight can be an intriguing match-up, as both boxers have impressive records to their credit. Canelo’s unmatched skills and experience set against Benavidez’s blistering power could potentially light up the boxing world. However, whether or not that dream bout will happen largely depends on how much Alvarez genuinely wants the fight.
Ultimately, though Andre Ward has rebuked Canelo’s demands, the power to determine the fight’s fate lies in Canelo’s hands. It is up to him whether to carry the mantle as the best pound-for-pound fighter or make a business move by commanding a high price for what could be a risky fight.
As Ward rightly put, “You can’t use that line! “. Neither the money demand nor avoiding rightfully matched opponents is conducive for the sport’s growth. In boxing, actions indeed speak louder than words, and Canelo Alvarez’s next moves might define his legacy in the boxing ring.
One thing remains clear – the boxing world eagerly awaits the outcome, hoping for the confirmation of a fight that promises to deliver unparalleled entertainment and a test of real mettle.
