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 Miguel Rivera
On Saturday night, former three division world champion Abner Mares (29-2-1, 15KOs) was scheduled to face Fernando Montiel in a Mexican war as part of a welterweight collision between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter.
The event got canceled when Thurman was involved in a car accident and withdrew from the bout.
On Friday, a new date was announced for Thurman-Porter.
The event will now take place on June 25th, with Mares now facing a new opponent. Mares will challenge WBA "regular" featherweight champion Jesus Cuellar (28-1, 21 KOs).
The venue and location for the fight is still unknown.
"I am very happy about this fight. I always wanted to face the best and Cuellar is one of them," Mares said to ESPN Deportes.
There is an interesting twist in the fight. Mares is now trained by veteran coach Robert Garcia, who very recently used to train Cuellar. Garcia is going to use his knowledge of Cuellar to ensure that Mares will walk away with the title.
"We were expecting date for the fight Mares and Montiel, but yesterday Abner told me that it was possible to fight with Cuellar and now it is confirmed. As a coach I'm glad someone like Mares will go for a world championship against a difficult but not an impossible opponent [to beat]," Garcia said.
"I know Cuellar. I made him world champion, made two defenses. I know his strengths and his weaknesses. It's nothing personal but I will work with Abner Mares on this and I'll get the best of him to win that championship."
Mares has been out of the ring since last August's decision loss to hometown rival Leo Santa Cruz, while Cuellar retained his belt last December with a victory over Jonathan Oquendo of Puerto Rico.
