Turki Alalshikh has promised to explore a potential mega fight for David Benavidez, who must first take care of business against Gilberto Ramirez on May 2.
The pair will collide for Ramirez’s WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles, headlining a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view card at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
For Benavidez, this represents an opportunity to become a three-division world champion, with the 29-year-old having already claimed notable victories at super-middle and light-heavyweight.
His legacy at 168lbs, however, was slightly diminished by an elusive showdown with Canelo Alvarez, who he chased for the best part of 18 months while holding the WBC ‘interim’ title.
During this time, Canelo had made a sizable impression as the undisputed super-middleweight champion, but was widely accused of ducking his then-mandatory challenger, Benavidez, while defending his titles against lesser opposition.
In any case, the 35-year-old is no longer considered the king of his division, having lost a unanimous decision to Terence Crawford in September.
But while Crawford has since announced his retirement, Alvarez is now working towards an expected world title shot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this September.
Should the Mexican emerge victorious, then Benavidez would seemingly still be eager to face him, even after moving all the way up to 200lbs.
In a video recently posted by Pedigree Boxing, the WBC light-heavyweight champion reminded Alalshikh of a previous conversation regarding his desire to face Canelo.
“Remember you told me you were going to give me Canelo?”
In response, the boxing powerbroker admitted that such a fight seems unlikely, but nonetheless promised to speak with the man himself.
“Let me tell you something: there is something we can do and there is something we cannot do. Of course I want to see this fight, but maybe when [Canelo’s] 40 [years old].
“We will talk with him.”
While the Canelo dream has not quite deserted him, Benavidez must ultimately remain focused on his cruiserweight title challenge against Ramirez.
