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 Jake Donovan
Unbeaten welterweight prospect Erickson Lubin now has an opponent for his Febuary 6th showcase on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. The 19-year old Floridian will face Mexico’s Edgar Ortega in a scheduled eight-round bout at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The bout will serve as the chief support to the headlining act, with Jermain Taylor defending his middleweight belt against former 154 lb. titlist Sergio Mora.
Lubin (8-0, 6KOs) has made his way to television for all but two career bouts since his pro debut in Nov. ’13. The Orlando (FL)-based southpaw was targeted as the best hope for the United States boxing squad to claim a medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, but instead opted to sign with Iron Mike Productions on his 18th birthday in Oct. ’13.
An active 2014 campaign saw Lubin fight seven times, having been extended the full eight-round distance in two of his past three bouts. His last ring appearance marked his toughest test to date, recovering from an opening round knockdown to score one of his own in round four en route to a unanimous decision win over Norberto Gonzalez.
Since his last fight, Iron Mike Productions has imploded following a falling out between its CEO Garry Jonas and iconic former heavyweight king Mike Tyson. Jonas joined forces with Tyson’s team in June 2013, bringing his Acquinity Sports stable into the fold to form the company named after Tyson’s ring nickname during his heyday as the sport’s baddest man on the planet.
Meanwhile, Lubin has since joined the seemingly bottomless stable of fighters under the advisement of high-powered, low-profile Al Haymon, who also serves as adviser to Taylor and Mora. It remains to be seen how Lubin will fit into Haymon’s planned boxing series on NBC Sports and its parent company NBC, which is due to kick off in early March.
Ortega (15-2, 10KOs) enters on the heels of an upset loss to Pablo Munguia last October. The bout snapped a 10-fight win streak that included an upset win of his own, having scored a 10-round decision previously unbeaten Daniel Rosario last August. The showdown with Lubin will mark his first fight outside of his native Mexico.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
