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.
ProboxTV’s championship series is now on the ProBoxTV YouTube channel for $5/month.
Learn More
Four time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is crossing his ringers to see a fight between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua - which he believes would be a natural and a real fan favorite.
At the WBC convention in the Fairmont Hotel, Baku, Evander - who was undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion reasoned - that Joshua's amateur experience is greater. But that Wilder is also unbeaten, a sharp and fast puncher, and literally anything can and probably will happen.
Wilder, who won an Olympic bronze, is scheduled to defend the WBC heavyweight championship on November 4th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The slated opponent is Cuba's Luis Ortiz, but he recently failed a pre-fight drug test and there has been no ruling on whether or not he can go forward with the fight. If Ortiz falls out, then a rematch is likely with mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne.
Joshua, who won Olympic gold in 2012, returns later this month, in a mandatory defense of the IBF, IBO, WBA world titles against Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria. The fight takes place in Cardiff, Wales.
Holyfield did say: "I do think Joshua does have the edge, because he's the more complete fighter, but it all depends upon how they fight on the night. You are only as good as your last fight.
"Anthony was knocked down hard by Wladimir Klitschko and he was hurt. But came back and showed heart. You don't learn how to get up until you're knocked down. Until you get knocked down, you don't think you can get knocked down. The first time I was knocked down, I was seventeen years. It didn't hurt, it just embarrassed me. The thing was...getting up.”
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, is hoping to match the two champions - provided they keep winning - in a big unification fight before the end of 2018.
