By Norm Frauenheim –
Politics, boxing style, continues to surround the David Benavidez-versus-Canelo Alvarez possibility and nobody is playing that game harder than Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz.
Lewkowicz has gone public with negotiations in an apparent attempt to push Canelo into an agreement for a September fight with Benavidez instead of Dmitry Bivol.
In a pubic letter this week to Canelo manager/trainer Eddy Reynoso, Lewkowicz wrote that he has made an offer.
“Please know that you do indeed have an offer to face Benavidez, a sizeable one, and I must tell you that I am offended by your claim that I’m ‘fantasizing’ about making this fight happen.,’’ Lewkowicz wrote.
“If you are also unable to find this open letter and no one tells you about it, would anyone who knows him please let Eddy know that I will send the same offer for him to communicate to Canelo Alvarez.’’
According to Sports Illustrated Thursday, the sizeable offer is as much as $50 million, including a percentage of ticket revenue and pay-per-view.
The reported number isn’t new. Lewkowicz said in February 2022 that he offered Canelo $50 million to fight the Phoenix-born fighter, the World Boxing Council’s No. 1 challenger for the WBC super-middleweight belt held by Canelo.
Canelo apparently said no and fought Bivol later that May, losing a decision in a huge upset at light-heavyweight.
Benavidez went on to a blowout of former middleweight champion David Lemieux, also that May, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ, a few miles of roadwork from the Phoenix streets where Benavidez grew up.
After the third-round stoppage, Lewkowicz told reporters that Benavidez-Canelo was “a fantasy.’’
But he changed his mind after Benavidez’ solid decision over Caleb Plant on March 25 in Las Vegas.
Fantasy had become reality, he said. Canelo, he said, has nowhere else to go. A Benavidez fight had to be his next stop, he said.
Then, Lewkowicz told 15 Rounds that he believed there were complications that would prevent a Canelo rematch with Bivol, a Russian whose career has already been impacted by politics. He’s banned from WBC ratings because of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war with the Ukraine.
Despite Bivol’s unanimous decision over Canelo, the 2022 Fighter of the Year has not fought since stunning the Mexican legend and pay-per-view star.
Canelo has said repeatedly that he wants to avenge the loss in a rematch at 175 pounds. However, Bivol has said he wants the fight at 168.
He says he wants an opportunity to win Canelo’s super-middleweight belts, although the WBC title would not be at stake if the acronym stands by its Russian ban.
It’s not clear whether Canelo and Bivol can reach an agreement on weight. If not, there’s talk that Bivol will fight in August.
That would leave a date surrounding Mexico’s Sept. 16 Independence Day wide open.
Benavidez?
That’s still not clear. Lewkowicz’ public campaign reflects uncertainty about Canelo’s future, especially in the wake of his unanimous decision over John Ryder in a tune-up on May 6 in front of a hometown crowd in a soccer stadium near Guadalajara.
He battered and bloodied Ryder. He knocked him down. But he didn’t knock him out. Hence, the doubt.
There are questions about whether he needs another tune-up instead of an immediate challenge, be it Bivol or Benavidez. Edgar Berlanga has been mentioned.
Even if the Berlanga option made some sense in strict boxing terms, it would unleash further criticism of Canelo.
Safe to say, it would represent a concession, perhaps further confirmation, of what fans have been saying. To wit: Canelo is in decline.
Another factor: A decision between Bivol and Benavidez represents a choice between legacy and more money for a wealthy fighter who has always said he wants to make Mexican history.
History means Julio Cesar Chavez.
There’s an argument that Canelo has to avenge the loss Bivol if he wants even a chance at ever surpassing Chavez’ historic reign as Mexico’s best ever.
But Canelo-Bivol 2 ranks behind Canelo-Benavidez in terms of what fans want to see. Despite Bivol’s accomplished resume, Benavidez is simply better known, especially among Mexican and Mexican-American fans.
On social media, there’s not much clamor for Bivol-Canelo 2. But there is for Canelo-Benavidez, a natural extension of the Mexican-Mexican American rivalry
Lewkowicz knows that. That why he’s on the campaign trail.
Valdez-Navarrete Update
An intriguing Oscar Valdez-Emanuel Navarrete has figured to be a Phoenix fight since the bout was first mentioned as a possibility.
Valdez stood in the ring alongside Navarrete and said “Let’s do it, maybe right here in Arizona” after Navarrete kept the junior-lightweight fight alive with a surprisingly tough victory over Aussie stand-in Liam Wilson on Feb. 3 at Desert Diamond in Glendale.
Valdez, a Mexican Olympian who went to school in Tucson, did his part, showing no signs of a rib injury or rust throughout a solid decision over Adam Lopez in a Vegas rematch on May 20.
Top Rank is still planning for Valdez-Navarrete for August 12. Still, it’s not official. It could still happen at Desert Diamond or at Footprint Center, the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix. As of Thursday, both were still available for the projected date.
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