PHOENIX — Jose Benavidez Jr. didn’t waste time. He had something to say. A message, he said.
Consider it delivered.
A first-round stoppage over Henry Auraad proved to be an explosive statement of what Benavidez hopes to do as soon as possible in a career that began with a bang, yet had been put on hold by hand problems
There were no signs that the hands will give him any more trouble. There was no caution and perhaps not a whole lot of patience in Benavidez, who threw punches at a rate and with intensity that showed no sign of brittle hands. The only one in danger of sustaining a fracture on Saturday night was Auraad.
Auraad, an unknown Colombian, never had a chance. He was just a guy standing in the way of a prospect with something to prove.
Benavidez (21-0, 15 KOs) pounced on the opportunity, overwhelming Auraad (16-9-1, 13 KOs), first with a jab that stunned the Colombian like a lightning bolt. Auraad stumbled forward. As he did, he ran straight into right hand from Benavidez. Somehow, Auraad kept his balance and stayed off the canvas. But not for long.
Benavidez immediately attacked. An avalanche of Benavidez punches buried Auraad beneath. He got up and stumbled forward. At 1:50 of the first, it was over. It was Benavidez in a TKO that said he wants world-class challenges.
Benavidez already has been mentioned as a possibility for some of the sport’s bigger names. He was on the short list for a bout with Brandon Rios, according to Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler. But HBO said no to that one.
“That’s because I’ve never been scheduled for even 10 rounds,’’ Benavidez said after only his second first in his hometown. “But 10 rounds, that’s what I want. Big names are what I want. Fighting a Rios is what I need.
“Hey, it’s time, time for me to step up.’’
A swift stoppage makes it hard to make a definitive judgment on whether Benavidez is ready for the next step. His trainer and dad, Jose Benavidez Sr., had hoped for more work with a few more rounds.
“Five or six maybe,’’ Benavidez Sr. said.
But the son had a different idea all along.
“I just wanted to knock him out,’’ Benavidez said. “What do they say: They don’t pay for overtime.’’
But there would be some extra pay in a bout against a Rios.
In the co-main event, Top Rank prospect Oscar Valdez (13-0, 11 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian, scored a unanimous decision over Juan Ruiz (23-15, 7 KOs) that was as one-sided as it was bruising. Ruiz rushed at Valdez, a featherweight who went to grade school in Tucson. He clinched. He was penalized a point and probably could have been penalized a few more, Ruiz did it all, while also taking one big shot after another.
“A tough guy,’’ Valdez said. “But you learn from tough fights, especially from a guy like him.’’
From Valdez manager Frank Espinoza’s perspective, the young Mexican featherweight’s learning curve is ahead of any featherweight he has ever managed. Espinoaza has managed some of the best, including Abner Mares.
“He has a real chance to be great,’’ Espionza said.
Before the Solo Boxeo telecast, Trevor McCumby (16-0, 12 KOs), a Chicago light-heavyweight, fought a no-name Michael Gbenga, whose name wasn’t even on his trunks. No name, no chance either. McCumby landed left after left, winning every round on the cards and knocking down Gbenga (15-16, 15 KOs), of Baltimore, in the fifth round of six.
Best of the undercard:
· With Oscar De La Hoya’s first pro trainer, Robert Alcazar, in his corner, bantamweight Francisco De Vaca of Phoenix stayed unbeaten (7-0, 3 KOs), soring unanimous decision over Ernesto Guerrero (15-12, 10 KOs) of Mexico.
· Featherweight Keenan Carbajal (4-1-1, 3 KOs) threw a left hand that reminded many in the capacity crowd of another Carbajal, Michael, a Hall of Famer best known his left. It took 26 second for Keenan to throw a Carbajal-like left for a first-round knockout of Edgar Pinedo (1-1) of Mexico.
