Trainer and Manager of Canelo Alvarez, Eddy Reynoso, has hit back at claims that the undisputed super middleweight champion is avoiding divisional rival David Benavidez.
Canelo-Benavidez has become one of the most wanted fights in the sport due to their respective standings in the 168lb ranks and natural rivalry, with the pair firmly cemented in their positions as the top two in the weight class.
Benavidez has been vocal in his calls for a fight with Canelo, having held the WBC’s mandatory challenger status for the super middleweight title since 2021.
Benavidez’s frustration has forced the WBC’s interim champion at 168lbs to explore other opportunities, with terms agreed to face Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June.
“They have made an offer, I have said ‘yes’ and now start working towards it,” confirmed Gvozdyk. There is not much more that I can tell you, this only started happening yesterday. I’ve immediately said ‘yes’ and that is it so far.”
Sampson Lewkowicz, Benavidez’s manager, posted that Canelo’s team had turned down an offer, and laid out specifics on X that were subsequently deleted.
Speaking to ESPNmx, Reynoso fired back at Benavidez and his team that Canelo has actively avoided a fight with his long-time WBC mandatory challenger and he denied an offer had been made for a fight between the super middleweight rivals.
“I find it in very bad taste that they say that Canelo is afraid of him,” Reynoso told ESPN mx.
“I don’t know how they dare to classify a fighter as fearful who did not hesitate to face Floyd Mayweather, who faced Miguel Cotto, who faced the fearsome Gennadiy Golovkin when he had knocked out half the world, who rose to light heavyweight risking everything to face Dmitry Bivol.
“The reality is that none of the big promoters have given me an offer to fight Benavidez.”
Speculation surrounds Canelo’s return, with no confirmed opponent for his Las Vegas date on May 4.