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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Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez was blessed with the presence of one Puerto Rican legend while he plans to pay tribute to another.
Undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano was among those who were able to provide the reigning WBO junior flyweight titlist with an extra boost ahead of his latest title defense. Gonzalez will travel to Managua, Nicaragua, where he will put his belt on the line versus Gerardo Zepata this Friday on ESPN+ and ESPN Knockout from Polideportivo Alexis Arguello—named after the late, great former three division champion.
“We are pumped for this third title defense,” Gonzalez said of the road trip. “I want to thank Amanda Serrano for being my running partner this time around. It has pushed me to the next level.”
The timing worked out perfect, as both are training for separate title fights on that same night. While Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14KOs) is forced to hit the road, Serrano (45-2-1, 30KOs)—a Brooklyn-bred southpaw who now lives in her birth town of Carolina, P.R.—will defend her lineal, WBA, IBF and WBO featherweight titlies versus Argentina’s Danila Ramos in Boricua-friendly Orlando, Florida.
Gonzalez and Serrano represent two of the five Puerto Rican boxers who currently hold titles. Oscar Collazo (WBO strawweight), Emmanuel Rodriguez (IBF bantamweight) and Subriel Matias (IBF junior welterweight) round out the list, as all remain a tight knit group and proudly fly the flag for their beloved island.
The trip to Nicaragua takes on special meaning for Gonzalez.
“October 27 will be a special night,” insists Gonzalez. “I will be honoring the late, great Roberto Clemente.”
Nicaragua long ago embraced the late, legendary baseball figure and humanitarian as one of its own. Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to fly to Managua to provide emergency relief for those left in need from a massive earthquake just eight days prior.
Clemente’s legacy is celebrated throughout Puerto Rico, the U.S. and in Nicaragua. Gonzalez hopes to properly honor it by leaving the ring with his title still I tow.
“It’s an honor to be able to fight there and defend my world title,” said Gonzalez, who celebrated his two-year anniversary as WBO 108-pound champion earlier this month. “I’m out to prove that I am the best junior flyweight in the world.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
