David Benavidez has been identified by many experts as an ideal future opponent for current unified super-middleweight champion and pound-for-pound king Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, perhaps as the first challenger to the undisputed 168lbs title if the Mexican is able to get past Caleb Plant and turn his three-belt haul into four.
However, Benavidez recently admitted on Little Giant Boxing that a bout with Canelo is likely still some ways down the road, and that he would be happy to take on another extremely challenging fight before then — namely, the undefeated Jermall Charlo.
When asked what his 'dream fight' for 2021 would be, Benavidez said: “This year, it would be Charlo. That’s a fight I want.
“Because Canelo, I know he’s got his own thing. I believe in myself; I bet on myself; I double down on myself. I’d get Charlo, beat him, and then afterward, the fight between me and Canelo would be that much bigger.
“Can you imagine if I get past Charlo and stop him, me and Canelo would be huge. It would be big. I know what I bring to the table. I know what I’m capable of.
“That’s a dream setup for me. They’re talking about 160; I’ll probably try and go down to 160. I want my people to believe in me. I’m here to stay. I’ll fight whoever and whenever.
“Hopefully, everything is good with this fight [his next upcoming bout, against Jose Uzcategui], and then I get another fight in December. I got to take care of this fight first, and then we’ll see.
“I’m excited not only because he’s [Uzcategui] a former world champion, and he’s a tough guy, but because he brings fireworks to the table,” said Benavidez. “It’s going to be a great fight for the fans; it’s going to be a war. It’s going to be in my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, so I’m excited.
“Whoever, I feel like I’ve been calling out a lot of names. I’m going to see what happens. I’m going to do my job, and then we’ll see what happens. Of course, I want the top guys. I feel like I deserve them. I’m going to keep proving everybody right until they can’t deny me a fight.
“I feel like he [Eddy Reynoso] likes those because the last couple of fights, Canelo, it hasn’t really been hard for him.
“He’s had a walk in the park. So I feel like everybody knows it’s going to be a hard fight between me and Canelo. It’s going to be a great fight, and I can’t wait.
Assuming Benavidez does indeed get past Uzcategui on Aug. 28th, he feels Charlo would not be the impossible task some may believe it is.
“I thought he was going to stop Juan Montiel, but that shows there are flaws in his game too,” said Benavidez about the current WBC middleweight champion.
“He’s talking about everybody else has flaws, but he has flaws of his own. He got a bad cut on his eye. He’s got his own eyes to worry about too.
“I feel like I would [stop Jermall Charlo]. It would be a great fight. I’m not saying it would be easy, but I know I can stop Charlo. Everybody else, I go for the knockout I for the kill against everybody. As the years go by, I’m getting stronger, and I’m excited for what comes in the future."