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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GLENDALE, Arizona – Antonio Mireles rode a late flurry to avoid a second straight distance fight.
The heavyweight prospect from Des Moines, Iowa closed the show in style as a barrage of punches forced a sixth-round stoppage of Dajuan Calloway. There were no knockdowns but Calloway (7-3, 7KOs) was pinned along the ropes and unable to defend himself which forced the stoppage at 1:48 of round six Saturday evening at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Calloway enjoyed early success but the 391-pound heavyweight quickly gassed as the bout progressed. Mireles worked his long jab from the southpaw stance, a bit too often to the liking of the early-arriving crowd who came for violence.
Their demands were met when Mireles (8-0-1, 7KOs) let his hands go in the final round. Calloway was twice trapped against the ropes and given a chance to fight back before his head snapped back often enough for the bout to be brought to a halt.
Sergio Leon Rodriguez was brief and emphatic in the evening’s lone all-Phoenix battle. The 27-year-old middleweight prospect floored Eduardo Ayala twice in a second-round stoppage.
Rodriguez dropped Ayala (9-4-1, 3KOs) with a right hand that should have produced the end of the night. Referee Robert Hoyle gave the Phoenix-based Sacramento native a chance to prove himself. Rodriguez (8-0-1, 7KOs)—originally from Hermosillo, Mexico but who now lives in the greater Phoenix area—sent Ayala to the canvas seconds later to produce the end of the bout at 1:02 of round two.
Ricardo Ruvalcaba enjoyed another early night at the office. The unbeaten prospect from Ventura, California saw the second round for the first time in nearly a year but managed to make quick work of Adrian Orban (6-4, 4KOs). Three knockdowns produced the stoppage win at 1:11 into the second round of their junior welterweight bout which served as the evening’s curtain raiser.
Ruvalcaba (10-0-1, 9KOs) floored Hungary’s Orban in the opening round and then twice more in round two. Body shots produced the fight ending sequence as the referee stopped the contest.
Headlining the show, three-division and reigning WBO junior lightweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete (37-1, 31KOs) attempts his first defense versus former two-division champ Oscar Valdez (31-1, 23KOs).
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
