There’s many times fans in boxing even now when fights are being made frequently think boxers are ducking their competitors.
A lot of times this simply is not true as anyone that gets in the ring at any level, amateur or professional, deserves at least some respect for that athletic decision alone as it takes courage.
There is no fear of getting hurt but where the issue arises of a competitor ducking another competitor.
Often times this isn’t the case and is due to some shady advisor, agent or manager behind the scenes trying to stop a fight from happening as they are the ones that are scared.
However, if there is one real reason a champion or high level professional boxing is ducking is someone and how to know about it behind the scenes, it is this.
They price themselves out of the fight.
Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren said it best on that.
If they don’t want the fight they will simply ask for too much money like three hundred million dollars or something crazy.
Most times talks for fights don’t go on via social media but sometimes in today’s connected world we live in negotiations can spill out sometimes on the X platform in particular.
Overall though, in general, we don’t think fighters ducking one another really exists in professional boxing.
They’d fight anyone.
They are paid to.
That’s the job.
But for balance for boxing fans, let’s look at five recent accusations in current professional boxing involving big names:
Canelo Alvarez – repeatedly called out for avoiding David Benavidez (longtime WBC mandatory at super middleweight), choosing fights like Munguia instead.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis – accused by Keyshawn Davis (and fans) of ducking real champions and avoiding him after Keyshawn’s WBO title win.T
Terence Crawford – criticized for vacating welterweight belts and ducking Boots Ennis — later taunted by Benavidez for swerving him too.
Devin Haney – accused of ducking Teofimo Lopez, Sandor Martin, and others during his title transitions and purse disputes.
Oleksandr Usyk – in late 2025, faced claims of ducking a top heavyweight challenger after vacating a belt.
Alas, none of the above stack up for us.
Canelo didn’t want to give Benavidez the opportunity and pay day because he doesn’t like him and believes he’s a bad guy.
That’s why he didn’t fight him in our view.
The same happened years ago with Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter in the super-welterweight division (140 pounds) in the UK.
Hatton didn’t want to give Witter the shot.
He never did.
As for the others — none of them are ducking either.
It is popular sometimes for boxers or fans to suggest ducking happens.
