Stephen Espinoza Says Canelo Alvarez Made Feelings Known Over David Benavidez Bout

PBC advisor and former Showtime Sports boss Stephen Espinoza has opened up on Canelo Alvarez’s feelings about the potential David Benavidez fight.

Alvarez vs. Benavidez is one of the biggest fights in boxing, but it hasn’t come to fruition for whatever reason, but Espinoza is just excited to work with Alvarez again.

“It’s fantastic to continue working with him,” Espinoza said (via BoxingScene). “Personally, I’ve got a long relationship with him going back to 2013 and the Showtime days and more recently it seems he’s pretty happy with the relationship and satisfied with the work he’s doing, satisfied with the results, so all of PBC is thrilled he’s working with PBC again on another big event.”

Although Benavidez isn’t his next opponent, Espinoza says Alvarez has the right to decide who he wants to fight. The conversation about Benavidez also was short-lived.

“Canelo has earned the right to steer his career by this point, and ultimately he does listen, he does take feedback, we did evaluate and negotiate with more than one potential opponent so there is definitely back and forth,” Espinoza explained. “He ultimately does make the final call in terms of the deal that he’s happy with, the structure, the opponent, and all of those types of things, and ultimately it’s PBC’s choice to be involved, and obviously there’s no consideration to not be involved. He’s the biggest star in the sport. He does massive events and there’s no reason to think this is not going to be another massive event for him…

“It was discussed,” Espinoza said. “But I think Canelo’s made his feelings pretty clear on that, so it was a short discussion.”

Instead of Benavidez, Alvarez will now face Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. After that, it’s uncertain who the Mexican will face.