Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom views super middleweight contender David Benavidez as a very big name for Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Canelo is currently tied to Hearn as part of a two-fight agreement.
Earlier this month, Canelo moved up in weight and lost a twelve round unanimous decision to WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
Canelo revealed on Monday that he was planning to drop back to super middleweight to defend the undisputed championship against Gennadiy Golovkin in a trilogy fight, which is going to take place in September.
Benavidez was back in action last Saturday night, when he blew away former world champion David Lemieux in three rounds.
The victory gave Benavidez the WBC’s interim-super middleweight strap – which puts him in line to face Canelo at 168.
To make that match even bigger, Hearn would like to see Benavidez face someone like former champion Caleb Plant, who Canelo stopped last year to become undisputed champion. Both Benavidez and Plant are promoted by Premier Boxing Champions.
“I think the Canelo-Benavidez fight is a very big fight. We know we’re going to go [with Canelo facing GGG and then Bivol] or [Bivol and then GGG], whichever. After that, I see Benavidez as a very big fight for Canelo Alvarez. Personally, to make that fight even bigger, I’d like to see him fight one real fighter. Just one, and that would be against Caleb Plant or [Jermall] Charlo. They’re two brilliant fighters and in-house fighters,” Hearn told The DAZN Boxing Show.
“Plant vs. Benavidez is the one. These guys who are chasing Canelo Alvarez, that payday, that shot at excellence, just give themselves a much better chance to get that if they get that big fight. Canelo respects that. He wants to take on a challenge as well and for anyone to think Canelo Alvarez wouldn’t want to fight anyone is the most ridiculous thing going. That [match between Canelo and Benavidez] would be a really big fight. Let’s make it bigger. [Benavidez] is dying for a real fight. He wants one, so give it to him. He’s a star. He’s a big name.”