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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Fringe flyweight contender Joselito Velazquez stopped Jesus Toscano at the Centro de Artes (CEART) late Saturday night in Mexicali, Mexico.
He also put another person on the canvas immediately afterwards.
Officially, Velazquez, who is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico and now resides in the Los Angeles suburb of West Covina, improved to 17-1-1, 12 knockouts.
Velazquez was the more-effective fighter of the two during the competitive bout. Towards the end of the third round, Velazquez stunned Toscano with a left hook to the head. Velazquez followed up by throwing and landing a combination to the head that staggered Toscano, sending him reeling across the ring. A right cross thrown by Velazquez to the head would have dropped Toscano, but the ring ropes held him up, prompting an immediate stoppage.
Immediately after the end of the fight, someone, likely aligned to Toscano, climbed into the ring under the ropes and attempted to attack Velazquez. The camera does not pan to the actual attack, but when it does, the attacker is on the canvas, likely dropped by Velazquez. An unidentified person is attempting to hold down the attacker, while a member of Velazquez’s corner attempts to put his hands on the attacker, but is detained.
The attacker is eventually detained by authorities and placed in handcuffs before being led out of the ring and likely to jail.
The 29-year-old Velazquez, who represented Mexico at the 2016 Olympics, is managed by Frank Espinoza and is trained by Eddy Reynoso, who also trains undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
Velazquez previously fought on May 3 in Guadalajara, Mexico, knocking out Porfirio Gonzalez in the third. He has now won his last two bouts since losing to former world titleholder Cristofer Rosales on December 3.
Toscano, who resides in Ensenada, Mexico, falls to 11-5, 2 KOs. The 30-year-old has split his last six fights.
Also on the Gladiador Promotions card, Perla Vanessa Lomeli, who resides in Mexicali, defeated Barbara Vazquez (6-0, 1 KO) of Navolato, Mexico by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 59-55 for Lomeli, who improved to 5-1.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
