Canelo dismisses Benavidez's idea of vacating title: 'I can do whatever I want'

It appears undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez won't be adhering to David Benavidez's request and relinquishing the WBC title.

Benavidez, the WBC interim champ and mandatory challenger, recently called for Álvarez to vacate the belt if he doesn't agree to fight him next. But Álvarez said Friday that he's in the driver's seat and will decide what happens at 168 pounds.

"Well, look, a lot of things can be said," Álvarez told reporters in Spanish, according to Fight Hub TV. "But at the end of the day, in this moment, I'm the king, and I can do whatever I want."

A fight against Benavidez is the most intriguing matchup available for Álvarez, the biggest star and one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in boxing. Benavidez is 26 years old and already seen as a future superstar, having finished former two-division champion Demetrius Andrade in a November pay-per-view headliner. Benavidez, who's undefeated, has wanted to challenge Álvarez for years.

Reports surfaced earlier this week that Jaime Munguia, Jermall Charlo, and Terence Crawford were front-runners to face Álvarez in May and that Álvarez-Benavidez could take place in September.

However, Álvarez said there have been no discussions about his next fight since he defended the undisputed crown in a September rout of Jermell Charlo. Álvarez said he plans to meet with his promoter, Al Haymon, next week and talk about an opponent.

"There's nobody at the table right now," Álvarez said of his next foe. "Honestly, I've been doing other things. I've been handling my businesses, traveling with my wife, so right now, I haven't talked about any of that. I don't know where all that came from. I don't know where those names came from. But on Monday ... we're going to see what comes next and see what's the best for us."

Álvarez wants to step into the ring twice in 2024 - in May and September. The Mexican fighter hinted that he's willing to face Benavidez but did not fully commit.

"Like I've said always, I'm here to make the best fights," Álvarez said. "And if that's a good fight for September, or if (Benavidez) has to wait a little bit - we'll see. But at the end of the day, sometimes the fights are bigger when you have to wait a little bit."