Boxing pundit Paulie Malignaggi is urging Canelo Alvarez to relinquish his remaining three super middleweight titles due to his decision not to defend against former WBC mandatory David Benavidez.
Malignaggi is displeased that Canelo chose to face his WBA mandatory Edgar Berlanga and recently fought his WBO mandatory Jaime Munguia instead of taking on Benavidez after waiting for several years.
“I don’t care who Canelo fights as long as he vacates his [168-lb] titles. I’ve been saying this for two years. I believe Benavidez would dominate him like a train on the tracks,” expressed Malignaggi to the talkSport Boxing channel regarding Canelo’s next opponent.
However, Benavidez has moved up in weight to the light heavyweight division at 175, leaving the possibility of a fight with Canelo at 168 unlikely. Malignaggi feels Canelo’s reluctance to face his mandatory further supports his opinion. He doubts the fight would even be competitive.
“It’s too late to talk about a potential Canelo vs. Benavidez fight, as Benavidez has moved up in weight. Canelo’s hesitation to face his mandatory reinforces my belief that the fight will not happen. The only reason I wanted to see it was for the titles,” Malignaggi added.
While Malignaggi acknowledges it would have been interesting to witness Canelo vs. Benavidez at 168, he understands Benavidez’s decision to focus on fighters in his new weight class. Ultimately, Malignaggi suggests Canelo consider vacating his titles and embark on a retirement tour instead.
Despite Malignaggi’s opinions, it is unlikely that Canelo will heed his advice to vacate the titles. Canelo has demonstrated his willingness to give up belts if pressured to face opponents he does not wish to fight. Malignaggi also criticizes other promoters like Turki Alalshikh for overlooking certain fighters and prematurely discussing potential matchups.
Turki Alalshikh has been vocal about his matchmaking plans, often stirring controversy with his choices. Malignaggi suggests that Alalshikh should be more cautious and strategic in his approach to creating exciting fights and not rush into matchups that may not make financial sense.
Malignaggi emphasizes the importance of thoughtful matchmaking and not underestimating certain fighters. He warns against overlooking potential dangers and encourages promoters to plan carefully for future matchups to ensure the best outcomes for the sport.
