.png)
Former two-time world super middleweight champion David Benavidez has disclosed that Turki Alalshikh approached him regarding a potential bout with three-weight world champion Terence Crawford.
Alalshikh, the chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, has been making waves in boxing circles and recently confirmed Crawford's move to challenge WBA junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov on August 3 at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Benavidez, frustrated by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez's reluctance to grant him a shot at the undisputed super middleweight title, is set to step up to the 175lbs light heavyweight division against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. A victory over Gvozdyk could position Benavidez for a future challenge against the winner of the June 1 clash between Beterbiev and Bivol.
While Benavidez's focus is on his upcoming bout, he revealed to Sean Zittel that Alalshikh had also proposed a fight with Crawford at the middleweight limit of 160lbs. However, Benavidez expressed concerns about the weight cut required for such a fight, indicating it would be too draining ahead of a potential bout in August.
"I had talked to Turki, great guy. They had wanted me to fight in August," Benavidez explained. "I told them I’m with PBC – we got this big card [on June 15]. So, I think it was just a conversation of opening the doors [to the possibility] that this might be a reality that we could make this happen. We never got to that point.
“He [Alalshikh] did mention to me one fighter. He wanted me to go down to 160 and fight Crawford,”
Benavidez revealed, before adding that he explained that the weight cut required wouldn’t be possible.