David Benavidez

Interest in Boxing and Early Career

 

Mexican-American David Benavidez was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to parents Jose and Michelle. He grew up in a household with boxing deeply ingrained in its fabric, being the younger brother of welterweight contender Jose Benavidez Jr. and the older brother of sisters Isabella and Daisy.

 

From a tender age, David, known as “El Bandera Roja,” was immersed in the world of boxing, learning the fundamentals alongside his older brother Jose. While other children his age were engrossed in playground activities, David was already mastering the art of throwing jabs and perfecting his footwork.

 

By the time he reached his mid-teens, David’s dedication to the sport had set him apart. While his peers were navigating the challenges of adolescence, he was traveling across the country, sparring with renowned fighters such as Gennady Golovkin, Kelly Pavlik, and Peter Quillin, among others, honing his skills against elite competition.

 

At just fifteen years old, David faced a pivotal decision: continue his amateur career or embark on the journey into the professional realm. Despite his towering stature of over 6 feet tall, finding suitable opponents in the amateur ranks proved to be a challenge. Witnessing his brother Jose’s success in the professional circuit inspired David to take the leap.

 

Transition to the Professional Ranks

 

At the age of sixteen, David Benavidez, alongside his father and trainer Jose Benavidez Sr., made a bold decision to enter the world of professional boxing. In August of 2013, he made his debut in Rocky Point, Mexico, where he wasted no time in showcasing his talent, securing a first-round knockout victory. This impressive start set the stage for what would become a meteoric rise in the sport.

 

His early success continued as he embarked on his professional journey, with his second bout in Tijuana yielding a similar outcome—a dominant performance and another first-round knockout. By 2015, Benavidez had caught the attention of Sampson Boxing, signing with the promotional company and further solidifying his position as a rising star in the sport. Over the next two years, he built an impressive record of 15-0, notching victories over notable opponents and steadily climbing the rankings.

 

In September 2017, Benavidez etched his name in the history books by becoming the youngest super middleweight champion at just 20 years old. In a thrilling bout against Ronald Gavril, he showcased his resilience by overcoming a final-round knockdown to secure a split-decision victory—a performance that earned him widespread recognition and Fight of the Year honors.

 

However, Benavidez’s journey faced a setback when he tested positive for benzoylecgonine later that year, resulting in a six-month suspension and the designation of champion in recess by the WBC. Undeterred, he made a triumphant return to the ring in March 2019, delivering a spectacular knockout victory over J’Leon Love in just two rounds.

 

This set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown against veteran Anthony Dirrell, who held the WBC 168-pound title in Benavidez’s absence. In a thrilling encounter, Benavidez showcased his skill and determination, gradually breaking down Dirrell before securing a ninth-round stoppage victory. With this win, he fulfilled his dream of becoming the youngest two-time super middleweight world champion, cementing his status as one of the sport’s brightest talents.

 

Title Defense

 

David Benavidez, the promising Mexican-American boxer, encountered a pivotal moment in his career on Saturday, August 15, when he was scheduled to defend his title against Roamer Alexis Angulo in the main event of a PBC on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing card at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Unfortunately, Benavidez failed to make the 168-pound limit, weighing in at 170.8 pounds, resulting in the forfeiture of his title. Despite this setback, Benavidez put on a commanding performance against Angulo, ultimately forcing Angulo’s corner to halt the action after the 10th round.

 

Reflecting on his missed weight, Benavidez acknowledged his mistake but remained focused on securing victory in the ring. He expressed his dedication to the sport and emphasized his determination to learn from the experience and move forward.

 

On March 13, 2021, Benavidez demonstrated his skill and prowess in a WBC super middleweight title eliminator against veteran Ronald Ellis. With a brilliant display of hand speed and power, Benavidez dominated Ellis over 11 rounds before securing an eleventh-round TKO victory. This impressive performance extended his perfect record to 24-0 and showcased his potential as a top contender in the division.

 

Following his victory over Ellis, Benavidez eagerly expressed his desire to face formidable opponents such as Jermall Charlo, Canelo Alvarez, and Caleb Plant. His ambitions were realized on Saturday, November 13, 2021, when he fought in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, against contender Kyrone Davis. In front of a passionate crowd at Footprint Center, Benavidez delivered a thrilling seventh-round TKO victory in the main event broadcast live on SHOWTIME.

 

Benavidez’s momentum continued on May 21, 2022, when he faced former world champion David Lemieux at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. In another impressive performance, Benavidez secured a third-round TKO victory to claim the vacant Interim WBC World Title. With his relentless aggression and formidable punching power, Benavidez asserted his dominance in the ring and solidified his status as a force to be reckoned with in the super middleweight division.

 

Another One

 

In a highly anticipated showdown on March 25, 2023, David Benavidez successfully defended his Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title with a commanding unanimous decision victory over former world champion Caleb Plant. The epic clash took place in the main event of a SHOWTIME PPV event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, presented by Premier Boxing Champions. Judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113 in favor of Benavidez.

 

The encounter between the two super middleweight rivals lived up to expectations, showcasing a compelling clash of styles. Plant’s technical prowess initially dominated the early rounds, but Benavidez’s relentless power punching and high-volume output eventually turned the tide in his favor. Despite their years-long rivalry, the fighters embraced after 12 grueling rounds, expressing mutual respect.

 

Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) showcased his dominance in power punches, landing significantly more than Plant (180-68), according to CompuBox. While Plant (22-2, 13 KOs) demonstrated greater activity, throwing 624 punches compared to Benavidez’s 551, he struggled to withstand Benavidez’s late-round assault.

 

Throughout the bout, Plant’s movement posed a challenge for Benavidez, who gradually adjusted his strategy to capitalize on openings. As Plant’s mobility waned in the later rounds, Benavidez intensified his aggression, inflicting damage with precise hooks and relentless pressure.

 

With his victory secured, Benavidez set his sights on the ultimate goal: a showdown with undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez. Expressing respect for Alvarez, Benavidez emphasized the fans’ and legends’ desire for the anticipated matchup, urging Alvarez to grant him a shot at the title.

 

Notable Quotes:

 

“I hope Caleb Plant is serious about fighting in the second half of the year. I’m serious. We’ve let this fight marinate as long as possible. Now it’s going to be an even better position because once I get the WBC interim title against David Lemieux, there will be no excuse not to fight me. He said he wants the rematch with Canelo. Well, this is the best step to do it.”

 

“I agreed to this fight with Andrade because he’s the hardest. Other than myself, he’s the best in the division. He’s the hardest task besides Canelo, so I want to challenge myself.”

 

“I think it might be time to go up to 175 pounds. I’ve been trying to make all these fights happen for a long time. I feel like right now, when I win the WBC interim title, I’ll have a little bit more leverage.”