As the discourse in the boxing world reaches fever pitch, Jose Benavidez RIPS “SCARED” Canelo over Jermall Charlo fight is undoubtedly one of the most attention-grabbing headlines. Benavidez, a former world champion, has come out with some scathing remarks about Canelo Alvarez’s fight selection.
Benavidez was recently asked his opinion on Alvarez’s avoidance of the undefeated Jermall Charlo, to which he responded, “I think he’s scared. He should fight Charlo. If he’s really the best, he’d fight all the tough guys.” He did not mince his words when it came to Berlanga either, referring to the Puerto Rican boxer as a ‘joke’.
Turning heads in the boxing community, Benavidez’s take on Alvarez’s fight selection process is sure to stir up some controversy. Alvarez earned the WBC Middleweight title in December 2020, but instead of defending it against Charlo, he chose to vacate it. This move caused a considerable amount of criticism from the likes of Benavidez, who clearly thinks that Alvarez is cherry-picking his opponents.
Canelo has since moved up to super middleweight to fight Callum Smith and Avni Yildirim. His sights are now set on a highly anticipated bout with Billy Joe Saunders. These moves have led many fans and insiders to ponder why Alvarez has not faced Charlo, amongst others. Importantly, it raises the question about whether Alvarez is purposefully avoiding fighters with the skillset to beat him.
As if that critique was not enough, Benavidez also had some choice words for Edgar Berlanga. The Puerto Rican boxer has a noteworthy knockout streak in the first round of all his pro bouts until the streak was broken in April. Benavidez described Berlanga as “a joke.” He questioned the caliber of his opponents, suggesting that his streak is less about his skill and more to do with the carefully curated list of boxers he has faced.
Berlanga’s record is certainly impressive; however, it is also relatively selective. Most of his opponents so far have not been in the top tier. Part of Benavidez’s criticism likely stems from the high prestige that Berlanga commands despite not having faced the creme de la creme of the division.
These latest critiques from Benavidez seem to open up a debate about how boxers build their legacies. Do they sensibly manage their reputation by ensuring they win most fights, or do they truly risk their standing by taking on the best in their weight division?
Canelo is undoubtedly a formidable boxer, yet his inability or unwillingness to face some highly touted fighters has led boxing pundits like Benavidez to call him out. Similarly, Berlanga and his promoters’ strategy to carefully select opponents may garner subsequent criticism as time goes on.
Theoretically, all boxers should be willing to put their record on the line against the best. Quite often, however, the business side of boxing gets in the way. With Jose Benavidez ripping into both Alvarez and Berlanga, a new set of critical eyes have been set upon these fighters.
Whether or not Alvarez will ever step in the ring with Charlo or if Berlanga will face high-ranked opponents remains to be seen. One thing is clear though: the path to boxing greatness is often challenged not only within the ring but also in the choices made outside of it.
