Coach Jose Benavidez Sr. expresses reservations about a potential match between his son, David Benavidez, and Terence Crawford. He suggests Benavidez possesses a size advantage over Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs), who is 38 years old, and the fight would be a mismatch.
BoMac Closes the Door
Benavidez Sr. points out that Terence’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, has already voiced his opposition to Crawford fighting him. Crawford himself has also expressed reluctance, suggesting he will likely resist any pressure from Turki Alalshikh to take the fight. Crawford seems to only accept fights against opponents he chooses.
Crawford’s Title Dilemma
“Gradually, they’re going to strip him of those titles, or he’ll have to defend them, and it’s going to be more challenging,” said trainer Jose Benavidez Sr. to Fight Hub TV, anticipating difficulties for Terence Crawford in maintaining his four belts at 168.
Crawford may relinquish his super middleweight titles individually to avoid risky encounters with his mandatory challengers, Osleys Iglesias and Christian Mbilli. He might hold onto them initially for promotional value. However, once faced with a deadline to fight Mbilli or Iglesias, he will likely relinquish those titles. Those fighters pose significant challenges for Crawford due to their youth and power. His success against Canelo might not translate against Osleys or Mbilli.
“The reason Canelo was asking for $200 million was that he recognized the significant risk [in fighting David Benavidez]. He [ended up] losing to a smaller fighter [Crawford]. He could certainly compete at 168. We didn’t move to 175 because of the weight. We moved because of the opportunities,’ said Jose Sr.
Benavidez could move to 168 if Turki Alalshikh can persuade Crawford to fight him, because he will face challenges securing the fights he desires at 175. Dmitry Bivol has shown no interest in fighting Benavidez, even relinquishing his WBC title to avoid the fight. Artur Beterbiev is nearing 41, and the level of interest among American fans in that fight remains uncertain. Considering Beterbiev’s recent loss to Bivol, Benavidez would primarily benefit financially from fighting him if Turki offers a substantial payout.
“Too Big for Crawford”
“He’s only had two fights at 175, and after Anthony Yarde, he’ll be in top condition. I believe he could make 168. It would be embarrassing for me to say otherwise. David is too large for Crawford. You can see that ‘BoMac’ and Team Crawford are not interested in David,” said Benavidez Sr.
Some Crawford fans might perceive Benavidez Sr.’s comments as sour grapes because Crawford secured the fight that he wanted for his son, David, and defeated the Mexican star, the reality aligns with his assessment. Benavidez’s size is a factor. He is also younger and throws a high volume of punches, posing a significant challenge for Crawford at any stage of his career.
Crawford’s typical fighting style involves counter-punching, movement, and clinching. This approach would not be effective against Benavidez. Attempting to evade ‘The Mexican Monster’ throughout the fight would likely result in a decision loss, unless the judges award a controversial win. A stand-up fight against Benavidez would be difficult due to Benavidez’s output. Crawford’s favored hit-and-hold tactics would be ineffective against Benavidez’s inside game.
Will Arons has reported on boxing since 2015, offering insightful analysis and ringside commentary on the sport’s prominent figures and emerging talents across various weight divisions.
