Malignaggi Slams Canelo’s Next Fight, Benavidez Ready To Fight Canelo If Charlo Drops Out

Paulie Malignaggi has hit out at Canelo Alvarez for fighting Jermell Charlo on September 30th, 2023. 

Canelo had been on course to face Jermall Charlo instead, only for the latter to not be ready in light of the fact he has been out of the ring for two years.

Although Jermell has stepped into his place, the fact of the matter is that the undisputed champion at junior middleweight will have to move up two-weight classes.

That will put the 154-pounder at a huge disadvantage. In response, Malignaggi made it clear that Canelo should have targeted a huge-Mexican fight with David Benavidez.

The latter has been the WBC mandatory to Canelo for more than a year. Meanwhile, Jermell was expected to face Tim Tszyu, who is the current WBO junior-middleweight mandatory. 

As such, Malignaggi questioned Canelo’s mindset behind picking such a fight. 

“[Canelo] ruined the whole thing for us. If they were the same exact size, I’d probably pick Jermell to be the favorite, but they’re two full-weight classes apart. Two, bro. Do you know what that means?

“It’s a lot of difference. Two full weight classes of a difference. This is the lot for Jermell to overcome. Not to mention, of course, the politics of any kind of Canelo fight that you have to overcome to begin with. I don’t know, man,” Malignaggi

Benavidez Ready

However, Benavidez is ready to face Alvarez if Jermell Charlo drops out. That is according to the ‘Mexican Monster’s’ father Jose Benavidez Sr.

The chances of this happening may be slim, but not impossible in light of the following. Canelo will face Jermell, who has never competed above 154 lbs, as he moves up two-weight classes. 

Not only that, but Jermell has had injury issues. The star was set to face Tim Tsyzu in January only to then injure his hand.

The recovery took longer than expected, which has now been elongated by Jermell’s fight with Canelo. 

But until the bout actually happens, there is always a chance that Charlo could pull out, with Benavidez’s team waiting in the wings. 

“Hopefully, he [Jermell] doesn’t get injured in training, but we’ll be ready just in case he gets injured. We’ll be ready. You never know what happens, but I don’t see David fighting Canelo or Jermell,” Benavidez Sr.