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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Mark Robinson/Matchroom BoxingCALABASAS, California – Cuba’s Frank Sanchez is entrenched in position to next meet new IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic, a bout Sanchez firmly intends to win.
Sanchez, 34, who trains under Canelo Alvarez’s longtime cornerman Eddy Reynoso, previously elevated to mandatory contender position to former top-ranked contender Moses Itauma before striking an agreement to wait and allow Croatia’s Hrgovic to fight Itauma Saturday in London.
In a stunning turn of events, England’s Itauma, 21, gassed out after sweeping the first eight rounds on two scorecards, and was stopped by Hrgovic in the ninth round.
“Frank called me during the fight to say, ‘Lupe, I’ll fight both of these guys,’” Sanchez’s advisor Guadalupe Valencia told BoxingScene this week. “He saw that fight and knew neither of those guys can compete with him. And after the fight, he called to say, ‘You’ve gotta make that fight. I’ll fight tomorrow.’”
Valencia said Sanchez, 26-1 (19 KOs), is determined to meet Hrgovic 21-1 (16 KOs), who has only lost to former IBF beltholder and current WBO champion Daniel Dubois. Sanchez’s lone defeat is to WBC titlist Agit Kabayel.
“Now Frank is the mandatory for Hrgovic. We plan on enforcing it. We’ve already had discussions about it. It’s happening,” Valencia said. “There’s not going to be step-asides for no amount of money. He believes he can be world champion and wants to be world champion and [nothing] is going to interfere with that opportunity.
“He’s been fighting since he’s been nine years old for this opportunity, and I believe Hrgovic is the perfect style for Frank Sanchez.”
Sanchez is coming off a May 23 knockout of previously unbeaten U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jnr.
“Moses wasn’t strong enough to hurt Hrgovic in the first six or seven rounds. It’s a completely different story with Frank Sanchez,” Valencia said. “Frank has speed and big power.”
Proof was seen in the Torrez fight, when Reynoso spotted an exact opening after the first round. Sanchez delivered the precise combination, and the fight was over.
“If you look at his fights, he hits hard and knocks guys out. You tell him how long the fight is going, and he’ll be ready,” Valencia said.
“A veteran who’s been fighting his whole life, with Eddy Reynoso as his trainer. They’ve worked together for seven or eight years now, and Eddy Reynoso told me when I first brought Frank to him, ‘Lupe, I’m going to make Frank champion.’ And I think he’s going to deliver soon.”
Hrgovic trainer Abel Sanchez told BoxiungScene this week he’d prefer to let his cut champion heal and rest until the new year to fight again.
“Whatever it is – he’s got to get healthy and if it has to be in January, it’ll be January,” Valencia said. “But it definitely is the next fight, and I have every expectation Frank will be the next world champion.”
Valencia spoke at a media day for his WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia, who defends his belt September 12 in Las Vegas against Conor Benn of England.
“I’m going to have a heavyweight champion and a welterweight champion – the two most important divisions in boxing,” Valencia said.
