David Benavidez is getting tired of waiting for Canelo Álvarez.
Benavidez, the WBC interim super middleweight champion who's scheduled to defend his belt against Demetrius Andrade on Nov. 25, said Thursday the WBC should strip Álvarez of his title if he refuses to fight him with a victory over Andrade.
"I think the WBC has to do the right thing," Benavidez told Fight Hub TV. "If Canelo doesn't want to fight me, then they should strip him and let me fight for the title. I've been the No. 1 contender for the past two years. I've been doing my job; I've been doing my thing. That's what happens when you're the No. 1 contender: You fight for the belt."
Benavidez claimed the interim title in May 2022 and retained it for the first time in a unanimous decision beatdown of Caleb Plant in March. However, the WBC has yet to order that Álvarez make a mandatory title defense against Benavidez.
Álvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, is coming off a dominant win over Jermell Charlo in late September. Álvarez is targeting Cinco de Mayo weekend next May for his next fight.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has said the sanctioning body plans to order Álvarez to face a mandatory challenger in the first half of 2024.
"I want to make my own lane," Benavidez said. "I don't want to just be that fighter waiting for Canelo as I'm doing now. I fought Caleb Plant, and now I'm fighting Demetrius. I want to make my own lane."
Benavidez is one of the most exciting action fighters in boxing. The 26-year-old is 27-0 with 23 knockouts. He has twice held the WBC super middleweight title in the past.