By Rick Reeno
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - BoxingScene.com has been advised that there are ongoing discussions for a welterweight showdown between Jose Benavidez (24-0, 16KOs) and Francisco Santana (24-4-1, 12KOs) for July 23rd at the MGM Grand.
The HBO Pay-Per-View card is headlined by a junior welterweight unification between Terence Crawford and Viktor Postol.
Santana has won two fights in a row since losing a ten round unanimous decision to Sadam Ali last April. Santana was in action last month, winning a ten round decision over Ed Paredes.
Benavidez has been out of the ring since last December, when he weighed more than 152-pounds [after weighing 139-pounds in May for his TKO of Jorge Paez Jr.].
BoxingScene was told Benavidez will not return 140 and at this point plans to compete as a welterweight.
