Although naturally big, and with room to fill up at cruiserweight, Benavidez didn’t necessarily have to flee the 168lbs division. He twice held the WBC title at the weight and left as its interim belt holder. However, he remained without a clear shot at then-undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs), who flat-out refused to fight him, despite growing public demand.
