However, Benavidez has come to the realization that a fight with the Mexican legend is no longer on the cards.

"I can say with confidence that fight is never gonna happen,” Benavidez said on the Last Stand Podcast. “I don't wanna keep calling someone out who doesn't wanna fight.”

Alvarez, 37, has never entertained the possibility of fighting Benavidez, who now holds both the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles. At one point, however, the pair were active competitors in the super middleweight division, and have also earned light heavyweight titles.

Alvarez will now look to close out the last few years of his career strong, starting on October 31 when he takes on WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Benavidez, on the other hand, is continuing his own path. He’s scheduled to face WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak on December 5.

Although Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) has always believed he would defeat Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs), he’s now changed tact and recognizes the 36-year-old's iconic status in the sport as a four-weight world champion with various accolades to his name.

“At the end of the day, Canelo is a great fighter and a legend, l'd like to follow in his footsteps and become a great fighter like him,” Benavidez said. “I don't wanna keep pushing a fighter, saying things to get him to fight me. I'd like to be a great Mexican legend like him one day."