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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Julio Cesar Martinez and his team don’t seem too bothered by the competition.
A call for a title unification bout came from Sunny Edwards, who recently defended his IBF flyweight title following a dominant twelve-round, unanimous decision over Philippines’ Jayson Mama (16-1, 9KOs). Edwards won by scores of 118-109, 118-109 and 117-110 to clear off his mandatory title defense obligation last month at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Immediately following the fight, London’s Edwards set his sights on Mexico City’s Martinez (18-1, 14KOs; 2NC)—known as ‘El Rey’—in what would serve as a WBC/IBF title unification clash and a showdown of the two highest ranked flyweights in the world. The callout was immediately acknowledged.
“Easy work for my boy,” Eddy Reynoso, Martinez’ manager told BoxingScene.com of the possible fight between reigning titlists.
Edwards (17-0, 4KOs) won the IBF flyweight title following a twelve-round decision over Moruti Mthalane in April of 2021. Long before putting a major alphabet strap around his waist, Edwards was keen on a showdown with Martinez if not to settle old family business.
Martinez previously faced Charlie Edwards, Sunny’s older brother who held the WBC flyweight belt at the time of the August 2019 meet. Martinez floored Edwards in round three, though landing one more blow while the reigning titlist was still on the canvas. He was originally declared a knockout win before the result was changed to a No-Contest.
Martinez won the belt in his next fight, a ninth-round stoppage of Cristofer Rosales in December 2019, having since made four title defenses.
In his most recent bout, Martinez survived a first-round knockdown versus McWilliams Arroyo to send the Puerto Rican challenger to the canvas also in round one as well as round two before the bout was stopped on a cut this past November 19 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Arroyo was unwilling to proceed with the fight prior to the start of round three, with the injury deemed the result of an accidental foul and the fight ending in a No-Contest.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
