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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Subriel Matias was mere minutes into his second junior welterweight title reign when he was told whom he would defend against next, and possibly when.
The “who” wasn’t a surprise. Dalton Smith is the WBC’s mandatory contender and was at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York City as Matias wrested the sanctioning body’s title from Alberto Puello via majority decision Saturday.
Smith and boxing financier Turki Alalshikh were both in the ring as Matias was being interviewed. The interviewer, boxing reporter Mike Coppinger, informed Matias of Alalshikh’s intention to feature Matias-Smith on November 22.
“I have my next victim in front of me,” Matias, now 23-2 (22 KOs), responded in Spanish, according to a translation. “I have something that he wants, right?”
Alalshikh then interjected: “No, friend, you will fight him in the November card for the world title.”
Matias then said: “You want exciting fighter. I’m here. I’m here.”
If a deal is able to be made, that fight is about four and a half months away, on a November 22 show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that will also feature David Benavidez defending his light heavyweight title against Anthony Yarde, Brian Norman Jnr defending his welterweight title against Devin Haney, Abdullah Mason taking on Sam Noakes for a vacant lightweight title and a unification bout between junior bantamweight titleholders Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Fernando Martinez.
It’s not just if a deal can be made, however, but also if a cut Matias suffered over his left eye against Puello can heal in time.
Matias, a 33-year-old from Puerto Rico, first reigned from February 2023 until June 2024, winning the vacant IBF belt with a TKO of Jeremias Ponce, defending it with a TKO of Shohjahon Ergashev and then losing it via unanimous decision to Liam Paro. Matias notched two wins before stepping in the ring with Puello.
Puello, now 24-1 (10 KOs), had won the interim WBC title in June 2024 with a split decision over Gary Antuanne Russell. Puello was soon upgraded to the full titleholder when Devin Haney vacated the belt. Puello made one successful defense, a split decision over Sandor Martin this past March.
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
