Boxing
David Benavidez targeting major fight in 2026 but not against Canelo Alvarez - Who does he want to face?
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Sampson Lewkowicz, the promoter of David Benavidez, is plotting a huge fight for his man, but it does not involve Canelo Alvarez.
Benavidez was recently upgraded to WBC champion, and he has been linked to a summer showdown with Callum Smith, and although the Liverpool man poses a big threat, Lewkowicz is already looking ahead to next year.
With Beterbiev and Bivol speculated to be meeting for a third time some time at the backend of the year, Benavidez is eager to test himself against the winner.
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Benavidez has long pursued a showdown with Canelo, but with the Mexican now focused on a September showdown with Terence Crawford , that bout is a non-starter.
Canelo was nowhere near his best when recently defeating William Scull to become undisputed champion at super-middleweight for a second time , and that is the main reason why Lewkowicz is looking at bigger targets for Benavidez.
“After watching Canelo Alvarez Saturday night and how he looked, I wouldn’t put him in with Benavidez for fear he’d [Canelo] be badly injured,” said Lewkowicz in a press statement regarding Benavidez.
“David Benavidez will fight in the fall and then be ready for Cinco de Mayo to face either Bivol or Beterbiev, where the torch will finally be passed to him as the new face of boxing.”
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