For years, fans have criticized Canelo Alvarez for not facing former super middleweight rival David Benavidez, and now Alvarez has revealed why that fight never happened.

Canelo became the first undisputed super middleweight champion in 2021, dethroning Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant in the space of 12 months in one of state-of-the-art boxing’s most impressive streaks.

After failing to challenge Dmitry Bivol for the lithe heavyweight crown, Alvarez returned to 168 pounds and defended the belt against Gennadiy Golovkin, John Ryder and Jermell Charlo – ignoring a fight against the physically imposing Benavidez, who was his mandatory challenger for the WBC title.

I’m talking to Inside The Ring ShowCanelo said his only focus at this stage was other world champions.

“When we were both 168 pounds, I fought every champion in that division. Why [did] never fought these champions? If he was the champion at that moment, I would have fought him. My goal was to be undisputed.

“Right now it’s just impossible. He can [go] fight heavyweights, you know what I mean.”

Benavidez held the WBC super middleweight belt in 2020, but was stripped after losing weight for his fight with Roamer Alexis Anguloand the vacant title was instead added to the Canelo-Smith fight four months later.

Earlier this month, Benavidez rose in the pound-for-pound rankings by knocking out Gilberto Ramirez to become a three-division champion and a up-to-date top fighter on the cruiserweight scene. He may return to lithe heavyweight next, but he has also touted a heavyweight appearance in the future. The 29-year-old’s super middleweight days are over, which means a fight with Canelo is as unlikely as ever.

Serrano defeated Hanson and forced the referee to stoppage at 2:25 of the second round in the main event of MVPW-03.

The seven-division world champion spent the first round studying Hanson before dramatically increasing the pressure in the second. Serrano backed the challenger towards the ropes and unloaded combinations that Hanson couldn’t respond to. After taking a sustained attack, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.

The victory improved Serrano’s record to 49-4-1 with 32 knockouts, while Hanson dropped to 17-3.

After the fight, Serrano admitted that the three-minute rounds helped her break down her opponents more effectively.

“First of all, I want to thank Cheyenne for taking the fight. She’s a must. She came to fight. She came to win,” Serrano said. “Three minutes we have to set up our shots. In the first round I was trying to figure it out, trying to hit it. When I went to the corner, I told Jordan, ‘I’ve got it.’ I just felt it. Now I understood it.

Serrano added that extended rounds give players more opportunities to create offense.

“I think these three minutes give us more time to have fun here. That’s what I did. I had fun.”

The knockout also moved Serrano level with Martin at the top of the women’s boxing record books, which she acknowledged immediately after the fight.

“I might break the next one,” Serrano said when asked about surpassing Martin’s level. “I can do 50 and break it the next one. Let’s go. That’s the goal.”

The performance took place in front of the largest combat sports crowd ever hosted at the El Paso County Coliseum. Serrano thanked fans for supporting women’s boxing and helping elevate the sport.

“This is what we need for this sport to grow. Sold out arenas. Not only for me. I’m very elated that women can sell themselves and we are showing, proving day by day, fight by fight, that we can sell ourselves. The fans want to see us,” Serrano said.

At 37 years senior, Serrano remains undefeated in the featherweight division and continues to break a record that already ranks her among the greatest fighters in women’s boxing history. One more victory could secure two more milestones: her 50th career victory and her sole possession of the all-time record for women’s knockouts.

Amanda Serrano is currently tied for the most knockouts in women’s boxing after a quick win over Cheyenne Hanson.

Serrano scored a dominant second-round victory against Hanson in Texas, successfully defending her WBA and WBO featherweight world titles.

The Puerto Rican star controlled the game from the opening bell and quickly proved he was better than his opponent, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 2:25 of the second round after a series of sustained punches.

The victory had additional historic significance for Serrano, who recorded the 32nd stoppage victory of her professional career, tying icon Christy Martin for the most KO victories in women’s boxing history.

The seven-division world champion, with a 49-4-1 record and 32 knockouts, continues to establish herself as one of the greatest fighters of all time and appears no closer to slowing down despite a career that has spanned nearly two decades.

After the fight, she celebrated appropriately and once again talked about the three-minute rounds for which she gave up the WBC belt in 2023.

“It’s my time. With the three minutes we have to set up shots. I felt it in the first round. But I think those three minutes gave us more time to have fun and that’s what I did, I had fun.”

“I can break the knockout record in my next fight. I can get my 50th win and break Christa Martin’s knockout record.”

The fight was on the undercard of Holly Holm vs. Stephanie Han rematchwhich once again worked out in Han’s favor, albeit controversially, and capped off the third women’s MVP tournament.