The fight boxing spent years asking for is not happening, and Canelo Alvarez’s trainer is done pretending otherwise.
Eddy Reynoso told Ring Magazine there is no route left to David Benavidez, who spent years chasing Alvarez at super middleweight and held the WBC mandatory position without ever getting the fight.
That fight against Benavidez is done. There was a time when that fight could have been made at 168, and it didn’t happen, so it’s done. He is now fighting at cruiserweight. There is a better chance for Benavidez to fight Oleksandr Usyk than there is to fight Canelo.
Benavidez has moved twice since. He went through light heavyweight and up to cruiserweight, where he beat Gilberto Ramirez to unify at 200 pounds. Alvarez is not following him, and Reynoso says he is not moving at all.
We’re going to stay at super middleweight for now. The division is heating up, and we can really stay busy there for the foreseeable future.
Benavidez’s camp has said he would still come down to 175, where Alvarez has fought twice. Reynoso’s answer suggests that offer is not being entertained.
Bradley Backs Canelo For October
The next fight is the one in front of him. Alvarez challenges Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title on October 31 in Riyadh, his first appearance since losing the undisputed championship to Terence Crawford in September 2025 and his first camp since elbow surgery.
Tim Bradley has seen enough of both to call it early.
He going to piece Mbilli’s —- up. I like Mbilli, tough guy, comes to bring the pain. It’s going to be a hell of a fight. But Canelo going to catch and shoot on his —- all night long.
Uppercuts, hooks, it’s going to be bad. Canelo’s going to look like he’s back.
Bradley’s argument is about styles. Mbilli throws in volume and comes forward, which is the kind of opponent Alvarez has spent a career countering.
Mbilli is 29-0-1 and was elevated from interim to full champion in January after Crawford retired and vacated the titles. His last fight was a split draw with Lester Martinez on the Alvarez and Crawford undercard.
Alvarez is 36 and 63-3-2. The bout was originally set for September 12 before a family matter pushed it back.
