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 Chris LaBate
According to Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. is attempting to close a deal to face Erik Morales, the WBC champion 140-pounds, on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. A few days ago, Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, said Mayweather was planning to return on May 5th of next year, and they already had the MGM Grand on hold. Ellerbe said Mayweather was looking to fight the "little fella" but Arum says the little fella is not WBO champion Manny Pacquiao, but Erik Morales of Mexico.
“You know who the little fellow that they already approached? It’s Erik Morales,” Arum told the Manila Bulletin. “And Erik will confirm it – absolutely. Erik has been approached to make the fight. He’ll take it for the money. I’m sure he’ll take it for the money. Why wouldn’t he?"
Arum's information may not be as crazy as everyone believes, because several days ago in the Mexican press - Golden Boy Promotions head matchmaker Eric Gomez was directly quoted as stating that his company was trying to make a fight between Morales and Mayweather, and both sides were very interested.
Gomez told Mexican reporters on October 29th - "We are in talks with Floyd Mayweather to match him with Morales. The problem is, it's very hard get Floyd because he says one thing today and another thing tomorrow."
Arum feels they used Pacquiao's name to secure the May date with the MGM.
“I don’t know who’s gonna buy it (Mayweather vs Morales). But that’s the whole nonsense is all about,” said Arum. “He (Mayweather) was on television last night. They say, ‘Why don’t you fight Pacquiao?’ And he says, ‘Take the test, take the test.’ What the f-k is he talking about? Everybody knows that’s not an issue anymore. He will not fight Manny Pacquiao. And who cares. There are some better guys out there for Manny to fight.
“They bull----ed the MGM to get the date, to get May 5. So they cut us out of getting May 5. But we don’t need May 5 because we’re not fighting a Spanish guy next. But they want May 5 because they’re fighting Morales.”
