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Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's recent demand for an eye-popping $150 million to $200 million to step into the ring against David Benavidez has sparked a fiery response from the young, undefeated former champion.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Alvarez dismissed Benavidez, stating that the only thing the former champion brings to the table is an extra 25 pounds of rehydration. He insisted that he would only consider fighting Benavidez for the astronomical sum of $150 million to $200 million.
This demand stands in stark contrast to the reported $35 million Alvarez is set to earn for his upcoming bout, an undisputed super-middleweight title defense against fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on May 4.
In response, Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) took to Instagram, questioning Alvarez's valuation of the fight. He wrote,
"If I have nothing to offer, then why are you demanding $150-200 million to fight someone who isn't worth anything? Hopefully, after you make that $150 million, you have enough left over to buy a pair of nuts."
Unlike Munguia, Benavidez has not shown much respect towards Alvarez, the four-division champion and former pound-for-pound king who remains boxing's biggest draw.
Some, including Munguia's Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran, believe that Benavidez's confrontational approach may have played a role in him being overlooked for the fight, despite his impressive victory over then-unbeaten former middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade late last year.
Oscar De La Hoya, Munguia's U.S. promoter, criticized Alvarez's demand, suggesting that it indicates fear of losing. "Outpricing yourself means, 'I'm afraid to lose,'" De La Hoya wrote.
While Alvarez vs. Benavidez would undoubtedly be a massive fight, it is not expected to reach the financial heights of historic bouts like Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao, which earned Mayweather over $300 million in 2015.
Alvarez's promoter for the May 4 fight, PBC, recently signed a deal with streaming giant Amazon Prime Video. However, the funding for a potential Alvarez-Benavidez bout could also come from Saudi Arabia, known for its willingness to host major sporting events.