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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By Keith Idec
Andre Rozier wasn’t about to sit still while Billy Joe Saunders tried to embarrass Avtandil Khurtsidze.
Rozier, Khurtsidze’s trainer, fired back at the trash-talking Saunders during a press conference Monday in London, where Saunders mocked Khurtsidze in English because he knew the native of Georgia couldn’t understand him.
“Because he doesn’t understand what you’re saying, don’t disrespect him,” Rozier yelled at Saunders. “Because you’re a real assh*le. How about that one?”
England’s Saunders set off Rozier initially by repeatedly interrupting when it was Khurtsidze’s turn to speak through a female translator seated next to the challenger on the dais. When Rozier asked Saunders to allow Khurtsidze to speak, Saunders said, “He’s only here for money,” in reference to Saunders’ mandatory defense of his WBO middleweight title July 8 at Copper Box Arena in London.
“He’s here to whip your ass,” Rozier replied. “That’s why he’s here. … Let him talk. He has an interpreter. Let him talk. Don’t be rude. I mean, I know you are rude. But don’t be rude.”
Saunders dismissed Khurtsidze (32-2-2, 22 KOs) as a legitimate threat because the short, strong challenger is 37 years old, 10 years older than Saunders.
“How’s that gonna make you feel,” Rozier said, “when he whips your ass then?”
The ever-confident Saunders then offered Rozier a bet on the fight – Saunders’ full purse against Rozier’s cut from Khurtsidze’s purse.
“Sure, I don’t have a problem with that,” Rozier said. “I have five other middleweights that keep me earning. I’m not worried about that. You talk about somebody not being ready for something – his sparring partners are better than you are. His sparring partners!”
Former WBA middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs (32-2, 29 KOs) is the most notable among Khurtsidze’s sparring partners. Saunders said he would “do the same thing” to Jacobs he promised to do to Khurtsidze on July 8.
“You don’t wanna fight ‘em,” said Rozier, who also trains Jacobs. “You don’t wanna fight Danny. And this was the man that got Danny ready for Golovkin. He’s gonna whup your ass on July 8th. You’re gonna be done. You’re gonna be done. You’re gonna be done. You’re not gonna make me do anything. You’re not gonna punish him because he’s gonna be ready for you. You’re talking about eating jabs – he’s gonna eat your jab and feed you a hook for dinner.”
Khurtsidze’s left hook knocked out England’s Tommy Langford (18-1, 6 KOs) in the fifth round to win the interim WBO middleweight title April 22 in Leicester, England. Rozier assured Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) that the same fate awaits him July 8.
“Make sure you get it together,” Rozier said. “Get that fat, little tubby body of yours ready [for] when he pounds you out. Get ready for it.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
