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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Fabio Wardley eventually proved Saturday night what he said all along, that untested David Adeleye wasn’t ready for this step up in competition.
Wardley dropped and stopped the previously undefeated Adeleye late in the seventh round of their 12-round co-feature before Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou met in the main event at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ipswich’s Wardley (17-0, 16 KOs) knocked Wardley to the canvas with a left hook in the final minute of the seventh round.
London’s Adeleye (12-1, 11 KOs) got up and tried to fight out of the trouble, but referee John Latham stopped their heavyweight bout at 2:43 of the seventh round. Adeleye, who was on his feet when the bout ended, demonstratively protested the stoppage and pushed Latham, which will likely draw a fine and perhaps a suspension from the British Boxing Board of Control.
A left hook by Wardley knocked Adeleye flat on his back with 51 seconds to go in the seventh round. A stunned Adeleye barely got up in time to beat Latham’s count.
Wardley hit him with several power punches when the action resumed and Latham eventually stepped between them because Adeleye couldn’t keep Wardley from hitting him.
Wardley’s right hand and hard jab landed a few seconds apart as the sixth round neared its end. A hard jab by Adeleye stopped Wardley in his tracks with 1:15 remaining in the sixth round.
Latham sternly warned Adeleye for his rule-bending tactics less than 30 seconds into the sixth round. Adeleye caught Wardley with a left hook less than 15 seconds into the sixth round.
Adeleye landed a left hook and then a right uppercut while exchanging with Wardley with under 45 seconds to go in the fifth round.
Wardley landed a right to the body, but Adeleye fired back with a right hand that landed to Wardley’s head late in the fourth round. Back-to-back jabs by Wardley backed Adeleye into the ropes with about 35 seconds to go in the fourth round.
Wardley’s right hand connected with just under 30 seconds on the clock in the third round.
Wardley’s jab landed and caused Adeleye to hold with 1:20 to go in the third round. Adeleye countered Wardley with a left hook about 1:10 into the third round.
Wardley drilled Adeleye with a right hand with just under 15 seconds to go in the second round. Latham warned Adeleye for using his forearm with under a minute on the clock in the second round.
A stiff jab by Adeleye landed a minute into the second round. Wardley landed a right to Adeleye’s body about 40 seconds into the second round.
Adeleye landed a left hook with just over 20 seconds to go in the first round. Wardley pressed the action throughout the first round, but he didn’t land any impactful punches during the opening three minutes of their bout.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
