Canelo Alvarez criticized David Benavidez over his lackluster efficiency in his debut at 175 in opposition to former WBC gentle heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June fifteenth.
Benavidez, A ‘Weakling’ at 175
Canelo feels Benavidez was a weight bully throughout his years preventing at 168, and now that he’s compelled to struggle in a division extra suited to his physique at 175, he’s the equal of Superman caught in a room stuffed with strength-draining kryptonite. Benavidez is now a weakling.
Alvarez factors out that Benavidez isn’t the identical fighter at 175, competing in opposition to guys his personal measurement. He feels Benavidez will quantity to “nothing,” and that’s an opinion echoed by many followers who watched his struggle in opposition to Gvozdyk.
The ‘Mexican Monster’ Benavidez confirmed that he’s not on the extent of the killers at 175, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
“I feel that’s his weight class. 175 lbs. And you’ll see he’s very completely different. He can’t do nothing with a fighter who retired in 2019. It’s completely different while you’re in your weight class and preventing with guys in your weight,” mentioned Canelo Alvarez to the Pound 4 Pound YouTube channel, speaking about David Benavidez’s drop off of potential when he moved up from 168 to 175 to face former WBC gentle heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk final June.
A Predictable and Susceptible Fighter
Most of the contenders at 175 will seemingly feast on Benavidez, benefiting from his lack of energy and a foul behavior of standing immediately in entrance of his opposition, throwing nonstop punches.
At 168, Benavidez may get away with this preventing fashion as a result of he’s big for the division, however at 175, he can’t try this with out getting his head taken off by the stronger fighters of equal measurement.
Benavidez’s efficiency, which had been dominant at 168, confirmed his energy wasn’t the identical at 175. Furthermore, with out his measurement benefit, Benavidez is a median fighter who throws plenty of punches however is there to be hit by the stronger fighters.
What’s extra worrisome is the shortage of stamina Benavidez at 175. He was drained after six rounds, and Gvozdyk beat him like a drum within the final half of the struggle. He appeared to lose the whole second half of the struggle, which ought to have made it a draw, however not on this case.
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) labored to a twelve-round unanimous choice in a struggle that was far nearer than the scores the three Nevada judges turned in. It was virtually a attract actuality, however the judges gave Benavidez a large choice.
