“He’s not coming to see him. He’s coming to see me. Whether it’s to scout for the next fight or anything, I don’t know,” said Benavidez to the media about Canelo being ringside on Saturday.
This is an example of an athlete who cannot let go. The idea that Canelo, who has spent years perfecting the art of ignoring Benavidez, is suddenly showing up as a “scout” is a massive reach.
Benavidez seems to be interpreting the situation through a lens of pure desperation. When a fighter has been waiting for this long, any proximity to the champion feels like a sign.
In reality, Canelo is likely there because it is a massive Cinco de Mayo weekend event in Las Vegas, and he still views himself as the face of that holiday, whether he is fighting or not.
It definitely looks like a case of seeing what you want to see. Instead of a scout, Canelo might just be there to support his teammate Jaime Munguia in his fight against WBA super middleweight champion Jose Armando Resendiz. If Canelo is on a scouting mission, it would be more logical for it to be Resendiz that he’s going to be studying.
Benavidez noted that he previously attended Canelo’s fights and now sees the situation reversed, though he stopped short of making any direct claims about a future bout.
“I went to his fights, now he’s coming to my fight. I don’t need to say nothing else.”
The unbeaten contender is set to headline during Cinco de Mayo weekend, a slot long associated with Canelo, and indicated he intends to build his presence around that date going forward.
“I’m taking the dates. I’m taking the Mexican [spot].”
Benavidez said he remains open to facing Canelo but did not offer a timeline, adding that the fight would be a missed opportunity if it never materializes.
“I think it’ll be a disappointment and shameful if we left that fight on the table.”
He is scheduled to face Gilberto Ramirez in the main event, with Canelo expected in attendance for the card.
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