David Benavidez Critiques Canelo Alvarez’s Mbilli Win

David Benavidez said Canelo Alvarez looked good in his unanimous-decision win over Christian Mbilli this past weekend, but questioned the champion’s low punch output and lack of urgency to score a stoppage.

Benavidez on Canelo Alvarez’s Output

Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Benavidez said the performance may have disappointed viewers expecting Alvarez to pursue a knockout. He argued that Alvarez, given his standing and earnings, should be expected to seek a finish rather than rely mainly on counterpunching.

Benavidez said Alvarez does not throw as many punches as he used to. He still credited Alvarez with having strong moments against Mbilli, while making clear his criticism was based on what he saw rather than hostility toward the Mexican star.

Alvarez returned to the ring this past weekend, more than a year after losing to Terence Crawford. Mbilli had become the full WBC champion after Crawford retired, and Alvarez challenged him in his first title defence. Alvarez used counterpunching and defence to limit Mbilli’s pressure, then built a lead in the second half to earn the unanimous decision.

Benavidez Says Alvarez Still Leads at 168

Despite the criticism, Benavidez said he believes Alvarez can beat any active fighter at super middleweight. He described Alvarez as looking strong against Mbilli, but said he appeared not to use all of his energy during the fight.

Benavidez’s comments focused on the contrast between Alvarez’s effective work and his restrained approach. He praised the performance while questioning whether Alvarez did enough to turn control of the bout into a stoppage.

No next opponent or fight date for Alvarez is confirmed in the report.