Terence Crawford has a surprising theory about why Canelo Alvarez hasn’t squared off with David Benavidez yet. According to Crawford, it’s not about avoiding a tough fight; it’s rooted in so-called “Mexican disrespect.” Crawford claims Canelo has faced other critics in the past - Shane Mosley, Danny Jacobs, Billy Joe Saunders, Erislandy Lara - despite their trash talk. However, he believes Benavidez’s comments carried a deeper cultural sting for Alvarez.
Fans, of course, argue that Canelo skipped Benavidez simply because the risky matchup could end in defeat. They compare it to Alvarez moving up to challenge Dmitry Bivol at 175 three years ago, bypassing Artur Beterbiev, widely seen as the more dangerous puncher. Still, Crawford, who’s set to face Canelo on September 13, has every incentive to keep the peace. If he openly criticized Alvarez’s choices, he might jeopardize the lucrative superfight.
Benavidez, for the record, is an American fighter with partial Mexican ancestry, so some question the narrative that Alvarez balked due to “one Mexican disrespecting another.” Still, Crawford suggests Canelo took Benavidez’s attitude personally and decided not to hand him the massive payday.
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