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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The stage is now set for the much awaited ‘Celtic War ’ between Andy Lee, ‘The Irish Assassin’ and Craig McEwan , ‘The Scottish Braveheart’ to take place this Saturday evening, March 12, as the chief supporting bout to Sergio Martinez - Sergei Dzinziruk WBC world middleweight clash at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States.
The Ireland v Scotland ‘Celtic War’ between Lee and McEwan will be televised live by HBO and comes on the weekend before St Patrick’s Day. Lee expects a strong turnout of Irish boxing fans at the Foxwoods Resort Casino arena to support him from across the East Coast of the US and from Ireland.
Lee commented “It’s always good having a fight around Saint Patrick’s Day. The Irish are great fans of boxing and they support and follow their fighters everywhere. So to be fighting at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut which is between Boston and New York is a perfect location. I’ve been getting a lot of calls, emails and text messages from people wishing me luck for the fight. There is plenty of interest and excitement about the fight, so the atmosphere should be loud and electric at the event.”
Andy Lee’s boxing talent in the pro ranks has been carefully nurtured and developed over the last 5 years by legendary Kronk manager and trainer, Emanuel Steward. The Kronk fighter (24w, 18ko, 1l) is currently ranked # 5 by the WBA and # 14 by the WBC in the middleweight division and is tipped by many boxing commentators to challenge for a world title in 2011.
McEwan, from Edinburgh, Scotland, a tall southpaw aged 28 is presently ranked # 12 by the WBO and is unbeaten in 19 outings with 10 of his wins coming early by way of KO. McEwan boxes out of the famous Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Both fighters are at similar stages in their respective careers, a win will potentially propel one of them into world title contention and a loss will send the other into potential obscurity. The stakes are high for each fighter, so the preview of the fight has edge and drama written all over it.
Lee is a very seasoned 26 years old, is a young and hungry fighter and views the opportunity to box on HBO in a chief supporting bout to a world championship title contest as the chance to showcase his talent on the big stage and as the gateway to bigger and better things.
The Kronk Fighter commented “I am very confident of winning this fight, training has gone extremely well and I’m physically and mentally prepared. I am totally focussed on the job I have to do, on March 12 my aim is to put on a good performance and take care of business. I’m in against an undefeated, hungry and tricky technical boxer with a snappy jab, so there is a lot to be said about that. However, I have the talent any skill to out box McEwan and also the tools to knock him out. Even if it goes into the trenches I’m ready and armed for a bloody war. Believe me I aim to win; This is an all or nothing fight.
‘I’ve been watching tapes of McEwan’s fights and studying him every day and coming up with and devising a plan with Emanuel to exploit his weaknesses while we have been working out in the gym. I am going to expose his short comings and flaws, I can’t reveal my plans at the moment, but you will see them on March 12.”
Lee has trained for the last 6 weeks in the Miguel Cotto, WBA super light middleweight world champion’s training camp at ‘The Heavyweight Factory’ gym in Hollywood, Florida. The Kronk fighter looked sharp in sparring, working with both orthodox and southpaw sparring partners getting useful rounds under his belt in preparation for the fight.
Emanuel Steward, firmly believes his fighter has the tools and weapons in his arsenal to beat McEwan ‘Andy is an experienced strong fighter and carries a powerful punch in either hand; he is an intelligent boxer who can read a fight and can adapt his style with ease during a fight. He has plenty of heart and can dig deep in the trenches to win a fight. Andy has had prefect conditioning for the fight and our camp could not have been better.’
The last time Lee fought close to St Patrick’s Day, was at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York on March 16, 2007, he produced a spectacular knockout that sent Carl Daniels, former world light middle weight champion crashing to the canvas in round 3. A finish like that would certainly impress his Irish fan base at the venue and the TV Sports executives at HBO.
Lee is on a 9 fight winning streak and moving in the direction of a world title challenge. He turns 27 in June and wants to make his mark in the boxing world scene this year, but for this Irish fighter it is one fight at a time and he is not looking past March 12.
Tickets for ‘Diamond Elite’: Martinez vs. Dzinziruk” and ‘Celtic War’: Lee vs. McEwan are priced at $450, $250, $125, $75, and $50, and are available now through the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods box office. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mgmatfoxwoods.com, by calling the box office at 1-866-646-0609, or in person at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office.
