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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Vitor Belfort was even quicker to call out Jake Paul on Saturday night than he was to vanquish Evander Holyfield.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion challenged Paul to a $25 million, winner-take-all fight after he stopped the 58-year-old Holyfield in the first round of their ill-conceived cruiserweight bout in Hollywood, Florida. Ryan Kavanaugh, Triller’s CEO, and Triller executive chairman Bobby Sarnevesht quickly added $5 million to the proposed eight-figure purse for a Belfort-Paul bout during Belfort’s post-fight interview in the ring.
The polarizing Paul fought twice on Triller Fight Club pay-per-shows, but he agreed to an exclusive multi-fight agreement with Showtime Sports in May. Paul’s deal with Showtime would prevent him from boxing Brazil’s Belfort in a Triller Fight Club Pay-Per-View main event November 25, the date proposed by Kavanaugh in the ring at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
“He earned the respect, but he’s still a Disney World kid,” Belfort yelled in reference to Paul, a former Disney actor, during his post-fight interview. “And we’ve got $25 million – the winner take all. Let’s go! Hey, Jake Paul, stop running from me, man. I’m gonna teach you a lesson. You can be my kid. You’re gonna meet daddy over here, at Triller. Stop running. You a little bitch! Yes!”
Kavanaugh seconded Belfort’s boast, but Sarnevesht promptly upped the offer.
“No, we’re not done here,” Sarnevesht said. “We’ll do $30 million. F------ Vitor versus Jake, all f------ day! That’s what I’m talking about!”
The 44-year-old Belfort (2-0, 2 KOs) is 14 years younger than Holyfield, but he is 20 years older than Paul (4-0, 3 KOs). Paul defeated another former UFC champ, Tyron Woodley, by split decision in their eight-round cruiserweight contest August 29 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
Paul-Woodley headlined a Showtime Pay-Per-View event. The 24-year-old Paul, a Westlake, Ohio, native, said afterward that a rematch with Woodley and a fight against England’s Tommy Fury, Tyson Fury’s younger brother, are at least possibilities for his return to the ring.
“Hey Jake, you got my respect,” Belfort said. “But I’m teaching you, man. I’m gonna put you in my lap. You’re gonna teeth like a baby. I promise. You better start training. And listen, man, all your little fans, they’re gonna be Vitor Belfort fans. You know why? I got this – I got family, bro. I got family. You don’t got family. I got family. America needs me, not you!”
Belfort beating Paul would provide satisfaction for Kavanaugh and Sarnevesht because Paul left their platform.
“And we want it on Thanksgiving Day, at the one-year anniversary [of Triller Fight Club’s first pay-per-view show in 2020], Thanksgiving Saturday,” Kavanaugh said. “Thirty-million dollars, winner takes all. If Jake says no, we all know why.”
Sarnevesht was more demonstrative.
“Thirty-million-dollar f------ nap!,” Sarnevesht screamed. “That’s the best nap Jake Paul’s ever gonna get. Yes!”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
