Saúl Canelo Álvarez retained the WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF super middleweight championships after unanimously defeating Jaime Munguía. After 12 explosive rounds, Canelo defended his championships, and both fighters gave a great exhibition of Mexican boxing that will remain in the history of national sports.
As soon as the judges gave the victory to Canelo, the question arose: What is next for Saúl Álvarez? The unified champion at 168 pounds said he was happy to keep his legacy alive and expressed that the next thing in his career is to take a break and then define who would be his next rival.
Unexpectedly, David Benavidez was at the T-Mobile Arena and witnessed the main fight between Mexicans. In the first rows near the ring, Benavidez watched the entire confrontation. It should be noted that Benavidez has been consistently calling for a fight with Canelo, but it has not been granted.
After Canelo retained his championships, both boxers carried out a gesture that sparked interest among fans. A video went viral on social networks capturing the exact moment when Saúl and David exchanged glances and made gestures, leading to rumors of a possible agreement for a fight.
During the twelfth round of the fight, Canelo turned to the audience and caught Benavidez in the stands. The unified champion pointed to the ring, particularly the area where Benavidez was standing, and repeated the gesture. Benavidez responded by raising his arms in approval, showing confidence.
Eddy Reynoso, the leader of the Canelo Team, intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further. Although Álvarez has denied thinking about his next rival, he mentioned that he could consider a fight with Benavidez if the financial offer is attractive.
After the fight, Canelo stated, “I can fight Benavidez right now if the money is right, everyone wants this, when the time comes they will realize that I am at another level.” Benavidez, who was present throughout the fight, would have to consider if he still wants the highly anticipated match-up with Canelo.