Benavidez Could Become ‘The Face Of Boxing’

June 12, 2024

11 months

David Benavidez could become the face of boxing.

That is according to Jim Lampley. Benavidez is undefeated with a 28-0 record, with 24 KOs. That has made him one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. However, he has fallen short of getting that marquee fight, which will make him a PPV star. The attempts at making the Canelo Alvarez fight have failed so far. Benavidez is the WBC Interim Super Middleweight Champion. He has been in this position for over two years. However, the WBC has not ordered the mandatory, leaving him waiting.

Since then, Benavidez has decided to move up to 175 pounds. He will box Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC Interim Light Heavyweight Title on June 15. The fight takes place in the co-main event of Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin. Benavidez knows a win puts him as a mandatory for either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol. Beterbiev and Bivol will fight for the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Title on October 12. So if Benavidez can get the Canelo or Beterbiev-Bivol fight, he is one step closer to becoming the face of boxing.

Lampley Reacts

“I just watched a lot of talk at the news conference, and there were a lot of references to quote, ‘The face of boxing.’ I think you have a chance to clearly become the face of boxing, and I’m thinking it will be a far more dignified mode than what I saw today,” Lampley

“Oh yeah, definitely. Sometimes, it does get to that boiling point where two men don’t like each other, but I want to show the fighters that we can be gentlemen in the sport. We can conduct ourselves with different behavior. Sometimes, you get two people that don’t like each other, and that’s what you get sometimes. It doesn’t have to happen like that all the time,” Benavidez stated

The term face of boxing has been branded about for some time. Tank Davis, Canelo, and even Devin Haney have been mentioned as other fighters who could take that mantle. It all depends on how fighters are judged. Benavidez is an exciting fighter who has won world titles. However, he is not a big commercial draw like Davis or Canelo. But to get into that position, Benavidez must face a big name.

Benavidez On Canelo

Fights against Canelo, Beterbiev or Bivol would fit that. The introduction of the Saudis into boxing has made that much easier. The Saudis reportedly want Benavidez to fight the winner of Beterbeiv-Bivol. Meanwhile, Benavidez has recently said he feels the Canelo fight will happen. The Mexican Monster has not been disheartened by the $200 million demand, suggesting that talks may be happening behind the scenes.

“I feel like it’s going to happen soon. [And] I don’t know how soon, but it’s looking more realistic. I think Canelo might end up getting his $200 million and we might be getting the fight we all want. It’s very exciting news for us. We just have to stay working hard and stay ready for the opportunity. When that opportunity comes, I will take full advantage of that.

“When we had first negotiated, they said they wanted to give me a flat fee of $5 million. I was perfectly fine with it. Right now, the way I take these fights, I don’t really look at the money. The money is not important for me. What’s important for me is that I do my job 100 percent, and the money is going to follow,” Benavidez said