David Benavidez has no shortage of HUGE fights on his radar. In an exclusive interview with BoxingScene, Jose Benavidez Sr. makes it clear that David still wants the biggest names at 175lbs including Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Benavidez has previously said those are two fights he wants to make as he pursues more titles and major challenges. But there’s another name that could make things very interesting: Andy Ruiz Jr. Jose discusses the possibility of an all-Mexican showdown between Benavidez and the former heavyweight champion, along with David’s plans across multiple divisions. And with a potential Jai Opetaia showdown also building after the pair came face-to-face following Opetaia’s latest victory, Benavidez has some massive options ahead.
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By Steve Kim
There's a very simple reason why trainer Abel Sanchez is not on the Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) vs. Gennady Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) press tour that concludes in Los Angeles on Thursday evening.
No, he's not being wooed by Team 'Canelo' to work on their side on September 16th.
"That's funny," said Sanchez, laughing. "There's no truth to that rumor. Why would I take a step down?"
Sanchez is currently in Maui, Hawaii for the wedding of his son.
In a few weeks he'll be back at his gym, the Summit in Big Bear, where training camp will begin for the showdown between Golovkin and Alvarez, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
"I think all of us are excited, I think boxing needed this boost in the middle of a resurgence with (Anthony) Joshua, and (Wladimir) Klitschko, Mikey (Garcia) signing to face (Adrien) Broner. I think it's very good for boxing but it's very good for Gennady. He finally gets the fight that I think will put him on stage where he's going to be by himself. He's going to be pound-for-pound kind, he'll get that recognition he should've gotten a long time ago," Sanchez said to BoxingScene.com.
Motivation shouldn't be an issue given what's on the line.
"I think he's very upset inside with all the antics that were done prior to them signing the fight. He's going to be very motivated to prove a point," said Sanchez, who back on March 18th guided Golovkin to a unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs at the Madison Square Garden."
But that doesn't mean that this camp will be any more grueling than before.
"We'll do what we've done in the past and just be successful," said Sanchez, who next week will be leading Denis Shafikov into the ring in Toledo, Ohio versus IBF 135-pound titlist, Robert Easter.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com
