Boxing fans would have been excited if the stars aligned for a David Benavidez vs. Terence Crawford fight.
However, Benavidez has revealed he was forced to decline the opportunity.
“(Turki Alalshikh) wanted me to go down to 160 and fight Crawford,” Benavidez said (thanks to Boxing247.com for the quotes). “I said, ‘Bro, I cannot do that.’ If I was able to make 160, that would be amazing, but I can’t.
“Don’t remember the last time I weighed 160. Would love to share the ring with him but not at 160.”
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Benavidez admitted that he had his June 15 bout with Premier Boxing Champions already booked. Instead, these were just preliminary talks.
“I think it was just a conversation of opening the doors,” he said. “That this might be a reality that we could make this happen. We never got to that point.”
David Benavidez To Return In June
Instead, Benavidez is focused in on Oleksandr Gvozdyk. The two will meet for the interim WBC light heavyweight title on June 1.
Benavidez, a super middleweight and former champion, has topped Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade recently.
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At 28-0, he was rumored as a potential opponent for Canelo Alvarez. However, Alvarez will meet Jaime Munguia this coming weekend instead.
Gvozdyk is 20-1 with 16 career knockouts and a former light heavyweight champion. He finished Adonis Stevenson back in 2018.
Crawford, meanwhile, is now booked to fight Isral Madrimov for the 154-pound belt.
Benavidez Continues Pushing Himself
Having competed at super middleweight and light heavyweight before, Benavidez continues to make himself always available.
He was a perfect 15-0 as an amateur before turning pro in 2013. Of his 28 wins, 24 have been finishes including seven of his last eight.
Benavidez successfully defended the interim WBC super middleweight title three times over two reigns as champion.
