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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NOTE: WEIGHTS – Up-and-coming middleweight prospect Mike Jones and his opponent Irving Garcia both tipped the scales at 146.5 pounds during Thursday’s weigh in from the Atrium at Bally’s Hotel in Atlantic City, N.J.
Philadelphia’s Jones (21-0, 17 KOs) will make his SHOWTIME debut against the tough Puerto Rican Garcia (17-4-3, 8 KOs) in the 12-round main event of Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation event live at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on SHOWTIME®.
Miami’s Antwone Smith (18-1-1, 10 KOs) weighed in at 147.5 and the talented Lanardo Tyner (23-3, 14 KOs) of Houston, Texas, measured 148 pounds. The two will face off in a 10-round welterweight fight in the ShoBox co-feature.
Jones is ranked among the Top 10 welterweights by all four major world sanctioning bodies in one of boxing’s deepest divisions: No. 2 by the WBO, No. 3 by the WBA; No. 7 by the IBF and the WBC.
The fight is being promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions in association with DiBella Entertainment.
What the fighters had to say on Thursday:
MIKE JONES
"He's (Garcia) a good fighter but I come to win.”
IRVING GARCIA
"I am in the best physical shape. I'm planning to give the fight of my life."
ANTWONE SMITH
“I wish him the best of luck. It should be a great, all-action fight.”
LANARDO TYNER
"I just hope he (Smith) wants it as bad as I want it."
Curt Menefee will call the action from ringside with Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver serving as expert analysts. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Chuck McKean directing.
