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 David P. Greisman
Tim Bradley has not only signed for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, but he has also extended his contract with promoter Top Rank. Though these business deals came at the same time, Bradley says this wasn’t a case of Top Rank telling him that the Pacquiao fight wouldn’t happen unless he signed the contract extension.
“No, no, no, not at all. It was just part of the deal, it was part of the package deal,” Bradley told BoxingScene.com on Jan. 29. “They never said that the fight would never happen. It was just part of the package deal that they were offering me. And for some people that say, ‘Yeah, that’s like putting a gun to your head and saying if you don’t take this, you’re not going to get the fight,’ but honestly, I think I was the only option Manny Pacquiao had at the time.
“I’m the only fight that makes sense to have right now. And whether I would’ve signed the extension or not, I feel I probably would’ve gotten the fight, regardless of whether I signed the extension or not,” he said.
He thinks staying with Top Rank is the right move for his career.
“There was just so much unclarity of what would be next, what if I did this, what if I went to the other side, you know what I mean?” Bradley said. “It was unclear to me. I really don’t know the other side. I really don’t know anybody from the other side. I really don’t know how it would be. I really don’t know if I would get a [Floyd] Mayweather fight. You know, Mayweather picks and chooses whoever the heck he wants to fight. It’s not like he sees me, I’m undefeated, and is going to be like, ‘I want Timothy Bradley.’ No, he’s never called my name. He’s never said he wanted to lace up the gloves with me.
“Everybody’s been waiting on the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight for years now, and they still haven’t gotten in the ring. So it doesn’t give me any security that I’m going to get a bigger fight than what’s in front of me. I always tell people I deal with what’s in front of me right now. I never look towards the future. I don’t have to look towards the future. I deal with what’s day to day and what’s in front of me now. I made my choice based on my family, and my sake, my career and my legacy.
“It made a lot of sense to be with Top Rank. It made a lot of sense to stay with HBO. I’ve built a relationship with all of these guys. It made a lot of sense. And the extension part was just basically, the money’s there. Like I said, the money’s there. I’m happy. I’m content with it. And my family is secured. That’s all I’m worried about.”
Pick up a copy of David’s new book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsamazon or internationally at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsworldwide. Send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com
