Bivol-Eifert: Benavidez seeks new answers, hears old questions

By Norm Frauenheim

It looks as if hints to David Benavidez’ immediate future will play out Saturday with light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol’s comeback from back surgery against German Michael Eifert in Russia, but that hasn’t stopped anybody from talking — ad nauseam — about Canelo Alvarez.

By all accounts, Canelo-Benavidez won’t happen. At least, that’s what Canelo said definitively during a news conference in Egypt for a Sept. 12 fight against Christian Mbilli.

Benavidez is a cruiserweight and possibly an emerging heavyweight, Stay there, Canelo said. In a rare agreement with Canelo, Benavidez father and trainer Jose Sr. also told Fight Hub TV that the fight was no longer a possibility.

The only sure thing is that fans and media will continue to debate, wonder and fantasize about it.

Canelo-Benavidez has become a permanent fixture in the public imagination, which is where it figures to stay.

Nevertheless, Benavidez repeated what he said after his beatdown of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for a unified cruiserweight title May 2. He can still make 175 pounds. Meanwhile, Canelo is staying at 168 in a bid for a World Boxing Council title against Christian Mbilli Sept. 12.

If a heavily favored Bivol wins Saturday, a return to 175 could create Benavidez’ first opportunity at an undisputed title, a key addition to his pound-for-pound resume. The Phoenix born-and-forged fighter has the WBC version of the light-heavy title; Bivol has the other three belts.

“I was ready then and I’m ready now,’’ said Benavidez, who was in Mexico City Wednesday to honor his father as the WBC’s Trainer of the Year. “I can still make 175.’’

Benavidez went on to mention Canelo. It’s impossible not to. Yet, his promised 25-pound move downscale is really about a shot at Bivol and that undisputed distinction.

Against Eifert, there’s a chance to see what Bivol still has. Has he completely recovered from back surgery? Is he still the same fighter who upset Canelo and evened the score with a rematch decision over Artur Beterbiev?

Answers will go a long way to figuring out what and who are next for Benavidez, now a top five pound-for-pound contender. But the questions will still be about Canelo.

FIGHT CITY

Bivol, who is of Russian and Korean descent, will be fighting in his home country in a city, Yekaterinburg, with lots of history, some noteworthy and some ominous.

It is Russia’s fourth largest city, located east of the Ural Mountains. In the early to mid-19^th century, the city’s mines produced 45 percent of all the gold in the world. Some of that gold can be seen, glittering off domes at the top of an old church.

It’s called Church on the Blood. Czar Nicholas II, Russia’s last monarch, and his family were murdered there by the Bolsheviks in July, 1918.

VIDEO: Benavidez – Ramirez Post Fight show

Benavidez celebrates Cinco de Mayo, knocks out Zurdo

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS —David Benavidez promised dominance. He promised to seize a Cinco de May torch that has belonged to Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.

For one night, the dominance was there.

So, too was that torch, which Benavidez grabbed with the fastest hands in a dangerous business. It belonged to him Saturday night and perhaps in future years after he claimed a third title in a third division with a sixth-round knockout of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Benavidez, born-and-forged in Phoenix, is the first in history to win titles at 168 pounds, 175 and 200. In effect, he took the snoozer out of cruiser with hands that move at a rocket rate.

“Speed, power and punch selection,” Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) said.”That’s what I do. I’ll fight anybody. Don’t efff with me.”

Zurdo (48-2, 30 KOs) tried. But he had no way of dealing with Benavidez’ singular hand speed. HIs trademark flurries are a blitzkrieg. They overwhelm.

In the fourth round, Zurdo saw it coming at him from angles he never expected. His only escape was to take a knee. A storm shelter wasn’t available. He would got back onto his feet, blood smeared across his nose and both cheeks.

All the while, Zurdo tried to subdue Benavidez with his bigger body and advertised power.

Benavidez answered the opening bell, looking smaller and somewhat cautious. Within the first round’s final minute, however, he landed the first significant punch, a short right hand. Zurdo countered. Then, however, Benavidez unleashed one of those swirling, blinding flurries, It was a sign of things to come.

In the second, Zurdo introduced Benavidez to some of that power. It was enough to back Bhim up a step or two. But Zurdo would quickly discover there was nothing he could do to slow down those hands

In the final second of the sixth, he encountered them again. Still, no counter. This time, the punches cascaded off of Zurdo’s face like incoming waves. Blood poured from his left eye. The right began to swell and take on the color of a purple grape. With one second left in the sixth, it was over. Cinco de Mayo, 2026, officially belonged to Benavidez, who stood in the middle of the ring and repeated his long-standing challenge to Canelo Alvarez, the last man to possess the valuable date..

There was no immediate answer from Canelo, who was at ringside. Then again, Canelo had just witnessed another reason nobody has been able to beat Benavidez, who — hands down — possesses the most devastating weapon in the prizefighting business.

Munguia wins belt, scores dominant decision

Jaime Munguia promised he would return to Tijuana with a title.

Promise fulfilled.

Munguia (46-3, 35 KOs) is homeward bound with a World Boxing Association super-middleweight belt in his bags after he easily beat Armando Resendiz ((48-2, 30 KOs)with superior hand speed, precision and even some surprising endurance.Saturday in the final fight before the David Benavidez-Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez main event at T-Mobile Arena.

For all but the final seconds of the final round, the fight was a mismatch. Put it this way: Munguia dominated Resendiz the way Canelo Alvarez dominated Munguia two years ago. Canelo was there, seated at ringside in support of Munguia. Canelo, who wore a T-shirt that said Jaime, is trained by Eddy Reynoso, who also trains Munguia, who left the ring amid a chorus of Cinco de Mayo cheers.

Within the first few moments, it was clear that Resendiz never had a chance. The scorecards would confirm that. It was Munguia –117-111, 119-109, 120-108. Only in the final seconds did it ever look as if Resendiz, a fellow Mexican, had a chance.

Munguia was attempting to score a knockout. He swung wildly, leaving himself open. That’s when Resendiz landed a huge overhand right. But Munguia withstood it. Seconds later, he had his promised belt.

Duarte wins controversial split decision

It began in controversy.

It ended in controversy.

For the winner, there were boos, lots of them.

Oscar Duarte heard them after he was given a split decision over Angel Fierro Saturday night on a Cinco de Mayo card featuring David Benavidez against Zurdo Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena.

“I thought I won this fight,” Duarte (31-2-1, 23 KOs) said. “I believe I won this fight.”

But the chorus of boos said loudly that many didn’t agree. Fierro looked to be in control early. Then, Duarte fought his way back over the final few rounds. Two cards had it for Duarte, 115-113 and 116-112. The third had it 116-112 for Fierro, The Boxing Hour scored it a draw.

Fierro, who was three-plus pounds over the 140-pound mandatory Friday, rocked Duarte repeatedly in the early rounds with a right, a lightning bolt of a punch. Fierro also got floored after the bell ending the fourth. But that right continued to land over the next couple of rounds.

Jose Tito Sanchez wakes up crowd, scores stoppage

A restless, late-arriving crowd finally got a wake up call, delivered by Jose Tito Sanchez.

Sanchez (16-0, 10 KOs) threw a succession of powerful combinations that put Jorge Chavez down twice in the 10th, a round that finally got fans out of their seats Saturday at T-Mobile Arena Saturday night on the Benavidez-Zurdo card.

After seven slow-paced bouts on the undercard, Sanchez struck. Suddenly, the crowd roared. It was as if Cinco de Mayo had finally arrived. Only Chavez (18-1-1, 14 KOs), a junior-featherweight from Tijuana, didn’t celebrate.

First ,a five-punch combo dropped him flat on the canvas. Somehow, he got upright. But not for long. Sanchez, of Cathedral City CA, quickly followed with another multi-punch combo, finishing Chavez at 2:30 of the 10th.

Ismael Flores scores 154-pound upset

Ismael Flores combined pressure to poise and added just enough patience to a thorough attack that left Isaac Lucero with only one option.

He backpedaled, backpedaled all the way into a one-sided scorecard loss Saturday on the card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo Saturday at T-Mobile Arena

Flores (18-1-1, 12 KOs), a junior-middleweight from Argentina, sustained his tactical mix throughout 10 rounds, scoring a 98-92, 99-91, 98-92 upset of the favored Mexican, (18-1, 14 KOs), a 9-to-1 betting favorite at opening bell.

Blancas ices Salomon, wins decision

Daniel Blancas calls himself “The Ice Man.” Raul Salomon found out why.

Blancos, still an unbeaten (15-0, 7 KOs) super-middleweight from Milwaukee, repeatedly stopped Salomon’s forward pursuit throughout most of a hard-fought 10 rounds on Benavidez-Zurdo card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

It often looked as if the chilling sting in Blanco’s pouches froze Salomon (16-4-1, 14 KOs) in his tracks, leaving the Southern California fighter without many alternatives in a unanimous-decision loss

Capetillo escapes with narrow decision

Dylan Capetillo, a Las Vegas junior-welterweight, scored repeatedly throughout three-plus rounds and then held onto his scorecard advantage, eluding a late charge from James Pierce for a narrow decision Saturday in the fifth bout on a pay-per-view card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo Saturday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Capetillo won 39-37 on all three cards over Pierce (2-1, 2 KOs), a Phoenix fighte

Carrillo stays unbeaten, delivers body-shot KO

It only takes one punch and Jose Carrillo, of Colombia, threw it, a lethal body shot that sent Marlon Delgado onto the canvas and kept him there for a fifth-round knockout in the fourth bout Saturday on the card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo at T-Mobile Arena..

The punch suddenly reversed Carrillo’s fortunes. Through four rounds, Carrillo (15-0, 11 KOs) was losing to a more active and precise Delgado, an Ecuadorian who lost for the first time in nine light-heavyweight bouts (8-1, 6 KOs).

No knockdowns, no winner either

There were no knockdowns. No cuts or bruising punches..

In the end, there was no winner either.

Julio Ocampo Hernandez, a Washington fighter who trains at David Benavidez’ Seattle gym, and Carlos Lewis, of Oklahoma City, fought to a draw in the third bout on the Benavidez-Zurdo-featured card Saturday.

Neither lightweight could gain much of an advantage throughout the six rounds.One judge scored 58-56 for Hernandez (9-0-1, 5 KOs). One judge scored 58-56 for Lewis (5-1-1, 3 KOs). On the third scorecard, it was 55-55.

Junior-welterweight Javier Meza dominates, wins TKO

Junior welterweight Javier Meza had more hand speed, more power, more accuracy.

More of everything.

Meza (6-0, 3 KOs) overwhelmed Damonte Smith (3-1, 1 KO), an Iowa fighter was knocked down twice in the fourth and was finished, a TKO victim, in the fifth round of the second fight on the Benavidez-Zurdo card Saturday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena.

First Bell: Middleweight Khamukov delivers opening salvo, wins decision

Sometime between brunch and lunch, the show opened in a ring with more people within the ropes than in the seats.

About eight hours before David Benavidez and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez would enter the ring, middleweights Petr Khamukov (14-1,6 KOs) of Los Angeles and Bernard Joseph of Massachusetts got things started in an empty T-Mobile Arena.

With punches echoing throughout the venue, a more aggressive Khamukov, prevailed winning a 10-round unanimous decision, 99-91, 98-92, 99-91.

Benavidez commanding the stage in a bid to prove he can command another weight class

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez is bigger than ever, both on the scale and the stage.

He commands a room with energy and charisma, delivering answers at the rate he throws punches. He’s moving up, moving fast. Stand in his way at your own peril. He’s an incoming stampede.

His momentum– all of it — was there Wednesday in a ring at one end of the MGM Grand’s casino floor. The sports book was at one side. A restaurant on the other. Center stage belonged to Benavidez, who entertained a gathering crowd of onlookers and then tirelessly spoke to one group of reporters after another.

There’s an old line about winning the news conference. There was no debate about it Wednesday. It was Benavidez, undisputed in every way.

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, the champion, was there, but almost as an afterthought in a promotional step toward a cruiserweight showdown Saturday in a Cinco de Mayo celebration at T-Mobile Arena.

On paper, at least, Zurdo has all the advantages. He’s taller, tall enough to look down at Benavidez, who has never had to look up to look into an opponent’s eyes. Zurdo knows the cruiserweight division.

Like an old pair of shoes, it seems to be perfect fit for Zurdo, who won a title in March 2024 and defended twice. Meanwhile, Benavidez is trying it on for the first time in a jump up in weight bigger and perhaps as daunting as any in boxing.

Twenty-five pounds pack a punch that many believe will provide Zurdo with enough of an advantage to steal the evident momentum and imminent stardom from Benavidez

“We’ll see,’’ Zurdo, a popular Mexican, said in a tone that was hard to judge.

Cautious?

Confident?

We’ll see.

In Benavidez’ tone, however, there was no room for guessing. No mistake, either, about what he intends in his bid to win a title at a third weight. As he stepped out of the ring after an entertaining display of his trademark hand speed, the ring announcer closed the show by saying he’s “looking to become” a three-division champion.

Benavidez quickly amended that.

“I’m not looking to become,’’ the Phoenix-forged fighter said into the microphone. “I will be a three-belt champion.’’

For now, there’s not much disagreement. Benavidez has been a solid betting favorite since the fight was announced. Even Zurdo’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, picked Benavidez to win what he predicts will be A Fight of the Year contender.

“I’m going to pick Benavidez to win by a haymaker,’’ said De La Hoya, who also suggested that Benavidez’ vulnerability might be his chin.

Zurdo has power and precision, according to De La Hoya. A precise shot from Zurdo could result in an upset, said De La Hoya, who apparently won’t be betting on that possibility.

What’s clear is that Benavidez is going into the fight pursuing a dominant victory. He wants to make a statement about credentials that’ll keep him in the pound-or-pound debate for a decade.

“I plan on doing this for the next 10 years,’’ he said.

And he plans to do it at the top of the game, which might mean nine more appearances on the Cinco de Mayo weekend that once belonged to Canelo Alvarez.

The date’s former owner is expected to be in the audience. Canelo, scheduled for a comeback in September from his loss to Terence Crawford, plans to be ringside for the Eddy Reynoso-trained Jaime Munguia against super-middleweight Armando Resendiz.

He’ll also get a look at whether Benavidez can prove that his Cinco de Mayo appearance is more permanent than temporary.

2-Division World Champion Daniel Ponce De León Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas

Las Vegas (April 20, 2026) – Two-division world champion Daniel Ponce de León confirmed that he will appear at the Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between David Benavidez vs Zurdo Ramirez, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.?
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Ponce de León will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend. ?
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The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan experience event that coincides with some of the sports’ legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs, Canelo vs. GGG III, Canelo vs Munguia and Canelo vs Crawford.

The Box Fan Expo is thrilled to open its doors to boxing fans from all over the world, as well to all major boxing companies, promoters and industry people during this Mexican holiday weekend.

Centered in boxing’s long-time home – Las Vegas – this year’s Expo is a must-do for fight fans coming in for this legendary weekend, with dozens of professional fighters, promoters, and companies involved in the boxing industry. The Expo is the largest and only Boxing Fan Expo held in the United States. A full day of boxing fan experience awaits you! https://boxfanexpo.com – @BoxFanExpo

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

Ponce de León will make his first appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Ponce de León will also have merchandise on sale at his booth , and fans will have an opportunity to take pictures with this former world champion also known as “El León”. ?
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Ponce de León joins Shawn Porter, Miguel Berchelt , Marcos Maidana, Teofimo Lopez, James Toney, Shane Mosley, Thomas Hearns, Roy Jones Jr., José Luis Castillo, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced. ?
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About Daniel Ponce de León

Daniel Ponce de León is a former two-division world champion from Chihuahua, Mexico, known for his relentless pressure, knockout power, and aggressive southpaw style. He turned professional in 2001 and quickly rose to prominence, capturing the WBO Super Bantamweight Championship in 2005 and defending it against top competition. In 2012, he claimed the WBC Featherweight World Title with a stoppage victory over Jhonny González, becoming a two-division champion. Throughout his career, he faced elite opponents such as Juan Manuel López, Adrien Broner, and Abner Mares. With over 40 wins and more than 30 knockouts, Ponce de León earned a reputation as one of boxing’s most exciting and durable fighters, and he remains a respected figure representing Mexico’s proud boxing tradition.

About Box Fan Expo

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to meet the stars of boxing that represent the past, present and future of the sport. With hosted autograph signings, meet-and-greets with current and former boxing world champions, limited edition merchandise for sale, giveaways and more, this is the ultimate event for fans of the sport.

Past boxing stars that have participated include: Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis, Julio Cesar Chavez, Roy Jones Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, David Benavidez, Teofimo Lopez, Sugar Shane Mosley, Andre Ward, Ryan Garcia, Claressa Shields, Fernando Vargas, Edgar Berlanga, Oscar Valdez, Marcos Maidana, Devin Haney, Mikey Garcia, Errol Spence Jr, Rolando Romero, Sergio Martinez, Tim Bradley, Jose Ramirez, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Deontay Wilder, Amir Khan, Abner Mares, James Toney, Jessie Vargas, Floyd Mayweather sr., Vinny Paz, Juan Francisco Estrada Mia St. John, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Seniesa Estrada, Jorge Linares, Leo Santa Cruz, Chiquita Gonzalez, Badou Jack, Nico Ali Walsh, Terry Norris, Riddick Bowe, Earnie Shavers, Michael & Leon Spinks, Brandon Rios, Anthony Dirrell, Danny Jacobs and many more…

Exhibitors include boxing promoters, gear, apparel, equipment, energy drinks, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies, and other companies who showcase their brand to fans and the boxing industry as a whole.

Throughout the next few weeks, leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on X and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

2-Time World Champion Shawn Porter Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2 in Las Vegas

Las Vegas (April 14, 2026) – Two-time world champion Shawn Porter confirmed that he will appear at the Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between David Benavidez vs Zurdo Ramirez, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

Porter will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend. ?
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The Box Fan Expo is thrilled to open its doors to boxing fans from all over the world, as well to all major boxing companies, promoters and industry people during this Mexican holiday weekend.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

Porter will make his eighth appearance at this years’ Expo and will showcase his streaming Podcast show “The PorterWay Podcast”. Porter will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. He will also have merchandise on sale at his booth , and fans will have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as “Showtime”. @theporterwaypod @ShowtimeShawnP ?
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Porter joins Miguel Berchelt, Marcos Maidana, Teofimo Lopez, James Toney, Shane Mosley, Thomas Hearns, Roy Jones Jr., José Luis Castillo, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.?
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About Shawn Porter

Porter is a retired American professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2021. He is a Two-time former welterweight world champion, having held the IBF title from 2013 to 2014 and the WBC title from 2018 to 2019. He is particularly known for his aggressive pressure fighting style, physical strength and high work rate. Some of his most noticeable fights came against Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, Errol Spence Jr., Adrien Broner, Paulie Malignaggi, Andre Berto and Kell Brook to name a few. He currently runs a popular streaming show “The PorterWay Podcast” which allow boxing enthusiast to watch great interviews with some of their favorite boxing celebrities. Porter is also known as a great commentator on many boxing platforms

About Box Fan Expo

Throughout the next few weeks, leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on X and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

Former World Champion Miguel Berchelt Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas

Las Vegas (April 8, 2026) – Former World Champion Miguel Berchelt confirmed that he will appear at the Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between David Benavidez vs Zurdo Ramirez, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.?
?

Berchelt will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend.

The Box Fan Expo is thrilled to open its doors to boxing fans from all over the world, as well to all major boxing companies, promoters and industry people during this Mexican holiday weekend.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

Berchelt will make his first appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Berchelt will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy at his booth. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as “Alacrán”.

Berchelt joins Marcos Maidana, Teofimo Lopez, James Toney, Shane Mosley, Thomas Hearns, Roy Jones Jr., José Luis Castillo, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.??
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About Miguel Berchelt

Miguel Berchelt is a former WBC Super Featherweight World Champion from Cancún, Mexico, widely regarded as one of the premier Mexican champions of his era. Known for his relentless pressure, durability, and knockout power, Berchelt captured the WBC title in 2017 with a dominant stoppage victory over Francisco Vargas. During his championship reign from 2017 to 2021, Berchelt successfully defended his title six times against elite competition, including Takashi Miura, Miguel Román, Jason Sosa, and Francisco Vargas in their rematch, delivering a series of exciting, high-action performances that cemented his reputation as a fan favorite, solidifying his reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. He has also been featured in high-profile bouts against Óscar Valdez and Jeremiah Nakathila. Known for his high-volume punching and finishing ability, Berchelt has recorded an exceptional knockout ratio in his 42 wins, with the majority of his victories coming by stoppage. A professional since 2010, nicknamed “Alacrán,” he is respected worldwide for his aggressive style and warrior spirit, proudly carrying on the legacy of Mexico’s rich boxing tradition.

About Box Fan Expo

Throughout the next several weeks, leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on X and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

2 Time World Champion Marcos Maidana Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas

Las Vegas (March 31, 2026) – 2-Time World Champion Marcos Maidana confirmed that he will appear at the Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between David Benavidez vs Zurdo Ramirez, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.?
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Maidana will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend

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?The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan experience event that coincides with some of the sports’ legendary, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Maidana II, Mayweather vs. Berto, Canelo vs. Chavez Jr., Canelo vs. GGG II, Canelo vs. Jacobs, Canelo vs. GGG III, Canelo vs Munguia and Canelo vs Crawford.

The Box Fan Expo is thrilled to open its doors to boxing fans from all over the world, as well to all major boxing companies, promoters and industry people during this Mexican holiday weekend.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

Maidana will make his third appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Maidana will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy at his booth. Boxing fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing star also known as “El Chino”

Maidana joins Teofimo Lopez , James Toney, Shane Mosley, Thomas Hearns, Roy Jones Jr., José Luis Castillo, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.

About Marcos Maidana

Marcos Maidana is an Argentine former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2014. He is a two-weight world champion, having held the WBA (Regular) super lightweight title from 2011 to 2012, and the WBA welterweight title from 2013 to 2014. An exciting and versatile pressure fighter to watch in the ring, Maidana was well known for his formidable punching power, always delivery incredible performances and was never stopped in any of his 40 professional fights. Maidana built his legacy through high-profile bouts against boxing’s elite, including Floyd Mayweather Jr., Adrien Broner, Erik Morales, Amir Khan, and Victor Ortiz, just to name a few.

About Box Fan Expo

Throughout the next several weeks, leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on X and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

Follow Box Fan Expo on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

Moving On Up: Benavidez weighing in on his many options

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez, once branded as a weight bully, now looks up-and-down the scale and sees only options.

Bullies are sometimes hostages, too, trapped by a narrow pursuit that eliminates other possibilities.

For Benavidez, that was Canelo and only Canelo. It kept him at 168 pounds, a super-middleweight division long ruled by Canelo Alvarez. For as long as it did, there was nowhere else to go for Benavidez.

At 23-years-old, he missed weight in 2020, losing the World Boxing Council’s 168-pound title for the second time since a positive drug test, yet never losing it in the ring. Still, he chased Canelo for five more fights over three-and-half years. The pursuit bullied the bully, keeping him at 168 and only 168.

From bout to bout, birthday-to-birthday, he battled to make the weight while his maturing body told him to move on, move up.

His toughest fight?

“The scale,’’ Benavidez, now 29, said at a recent news conference for the formal announcement in his bid for a cruiserweight title against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez May 2 in Las Vegas.

It was a joke. Kind of. The question asked by The Boxing Hour, should have been more specific. To wit: Who was his toughest opponent?

“Caleb Plant,” said Benavidez, a Phoenix born-and-forged fighter who battled and beat Plant, scoring a hard-fought decision in Vegas March 2023.

He would fight once more at super-middle, winning both the fight with the scale and then Demetrius Andrade later that year.

Still, Canelo would not budge, perhaps because he saw Benavidez as too big, or too loud or too much of both. Whatever the reason, Benavidez moved on, moved up. The question, however, is still there.

“For as long as Canelo is still out there, still active, it’ll always will be,’’ Benavidez said.

Canelo is planning a September 12 comeback in Riyadh from his scorecard loss to Terence Crawford. Christian Mbilli and others have been mentioned for what will be Canelo’s first fight in a year. But don’t bother to look too far down the list. Benavidez’ name is not there. The question is, of course.

These days, it’s almost always preceded by an apology. Sorry, but we have to ask.

Benavidez is happy to answer. Maybe, relieved, too. His move up the scale has freed him from the frustration that had been attached to the futile pursuit of what would have been a rich date with Canelo. It’s also freed him to take on risks that can make or break a legacy.

Cruiserweight is that risk. After three fights at light-heavyweight, Benavidez is making the jump, from 175- pound champion to 200-pound challenger.

Zurdo, Benavidez’ old sparring partner, has been at the weight for three fights over the last two years. He’s won two of the belts. His experience, familiarity, gives him an edge.

Another Zurdo advantage is measurable. Benavidez has always been the bigger fighter. In a face-off at the end of a Las Vegas newser late last month, however, Benavidez had to look up to look into Zurdo’s eyes. Will that matter? Maybe not.

But that photo is just one indication of adjustments confronting Benavidez in a bid for a third division title.

There’s a sense that Benavidez’ energy and whirlwind punching rate will propel him to victory. Betting odds reflect that. Benavidez is a slight favorite, minus 310.

Jai Opetaia, the world’s most feared cruiserweight, talked about Benavidez-Zurdo during the days before his bout against Brandon Glanton in a Zuffa-promoted card Sunday in Vegas. He wants the winner.

Opetaia, the most interesting big guy from Down Under since David Tua, also talked to Benavidez during the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios fight on March 21. They weren’t exchanging gardening tips. The Benavidez-Opetaia possibility has got fans talking.

Whatever happens, Benavidez hasn’t eliminated anything on either side of his current place on the scale. He says he still wants to fight Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev at light-heavy.

The difference between 175-to 168 is seven pounds however. That’s a lot less than the 25 pounds separating 200 from 175.

Can he go back down, win another fight with the scale? He’s done it before, which explains why he’s confident he can do it again.

But doubts increase as he gets older. It’s also not clear what Bivol and Beterbiev plan to do. There was talk of them in a second rematch, a trilogy. But both names have begun to fall out of the media and the pound-for-pound ratings. Their careers are close to the end.

Meanwhile, Benavidez is just beginning on a path that some say will lead to heavyweight. Cruiserweight is just seen as a steppingstone for him and Opetaia, as it was for Evander Holyfield and Oleksandr Usyk. But that option will have to wait.

“The question is not whether I can fight at heavyweight,’’ Benavidez said. “It’s whether I want to.’’

2 Division World Champion José Luis Castillo Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas

Las Vegas (February 24, 2026) – Two-division world champion José Luis Castillo has confirmed that he will appear at the Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between David Benavidez vs Zurdo Ramirez, that will take place later that evening at the T-Mobile Arena.

Castillo will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend

The Box Fan Expo is thrilled to open its doors to boxing fans from all over the world, as well to all major boxing companies, promoters and industry people during this Mexican holiday weekend.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

Castillo will make his first appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, photos, personal items and memorabilia. Castillo will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy. Boxing Fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing legend also known as “El Temible”.

Castillo joins Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera as an early commitment to this year’s Box Fan Expo, with more Boxing stars to be announced.

About José Luis Castillo

José Luis Castillo is a former two-division world champion. Castillo stands as one of Mexico’s most respected and fearless warriors in modern boxing history. Born in Empalme, Sonora, Castillo built a legendary professional career defined by relentless pressure, devastating body punching, and an indomitable fighting spirit. A two-time WBC Lightweight World Champion and WBC Light Welterweight World Champion, Castillo earned global recognition through unforgettable battles against elite champions including Floyd Mayweather Jr. a fiercely competitive rivalry in which many observers believed Castillo had done enough to win their first encounter. He also delivered an unforgettable 2005 classic against Diego Corrales; a bout widely regarded as one of the greatest fights in boxing history. Castillo further shared the ring with world-class talents such as Stevie Johnston, Joel Casamayor, and Ricky Hatton, underscoring his reputation as one of the most fearless and respected competitors of his generation. With 66 victories, including 57 knockouts, Castillo’s career reflects durability, heart, and championship excellence. Revered by fans and fighters alike, José Luis Castillo remains a proud ambassador of Mexican boxing and a symbol of courage, resilience, and elite-level competition on the world stage.

About Box Fan Expo

Throughout the next few months leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite:

https://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2026

To request information on exhibiting and sponsorship at the Expo:

For media credentials:

Contact us:

Telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on Box Fan Expo visit: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

Follow Box Fan Expo on X and Instagram at: @BoxFanExpo

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Taking Flight: David Benavidez back in PHX and ready to jump into his prime

By Norm Frauenheim –

David Benavidez wore a polished symbol of the Phoenix logo around his neck a few days ago in a long-awaited homecoming.

The medallion represents, he says, where he’s been and who he still is.

In its brass reflection, however, there was something else. Something more. The mythological bird, now a modern city’s identity seen on government doors and busses, means a lot of things.

On this day, there was a message, a bold statement about a fighter transformed, unleashed from the years when he was defined by his futile pursuit of Canelo Alvarez.

He’s moved on, beyond Canelo and up the scale. The Canelo question is still there. Yet now, it’s almost an aside. Sorry to ask, video journalists say apologetically as he stands amid reporters and a long line of fans during an opening of the Visionary Boxing Club in west Phoenix last week.

No problem, Benavidez says, smiling. He hasn’t exactly eliminated Canelo as a possibility. He never will. The maturing Benavidez, 29-years-old last month, is a businessman, too. Business is a fundamental too often not included in a prize fighter’s skillset.

Canelo still means business, lots of it. Benavidez, like everybody else in the fight game, knows Canelo collected $100-million-plus for his September loss to Terence Crawford. That’s more than a prize. It’s a fortune.

Of course, Benavidez says he’d fight Canelo.

Canelo’s future, post-Crawford, was unclear until Thursday when The Ring reported he plans to fight again on Sept.12 in Saudi Arabia. He underwent elbow surgery in the immediate aftermath of the one-sided scorecard loss to Crawford.

In a video, Canelo’s return was called a “big, big,

big fight” by Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh, who bankrolled the Canelo-Crawford fight and owns The Ring.

Until then, Benavidez has other plans, all as ambitious as they are risky.

“Zurdo, Beterbiev, Bivol,’’ Benavidez said of Gilberto Ramirez, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Of the three, only Ramirez – Zurdo – is on the calendar, penciled in for May 2 – the Cinco-de-Mayo celebration that could have been called Canelo-de-Mayo during the Mexican’s primetime reign.

The risk in the Zurdo date, planned for Las Vegas, looks to be heavy. Benavidez, who defended his light-heavyweight title in a seventh-round stoppage of Anthony Yarde November 22 in Saudi Arabia, is making the jump to cruiserweight.

After only three fights at 175-pounds, the light-heavy limit, Benavidez will fight in a division 25 pounds heavier.

On the scale, it looks risky. According to early odds, however, it’s not. Some betting sites already make Benavidez a big favorite (minus-900).

Benavidez is confident, in part because he knows Zurdo well. They’ve sparred countless rounds. One hundred, 200 rounds, Benavidez says.

“Between 2017 and 2022, we sparred all the time,’’ said Benavidez, now a Miami resident who re-connected with his Phoenix fan-base Saturday by signing autographs for about six hours. “For five years, we sparred championship rounds. I knew then that I wanted to fight Zurdo. One day, I figured we would.

“After all of those championship rounds, it’s going to be a championship fight.’’

Benavidez is already at his new weight.

“I’m at 200 pounds now,’’ he said last Saturday.

The weight looked natural, unlike the 168 pounds that often left him gaunt and hollow-cheeked in the division long dominated by Canelo.

His father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., says his son is already close to the weight he expects hm to be at opening bell May 2.

“Two-hundred, maybe 205,’’ Jose Sr. said.

Still, the jump in weight leaves questions about his hope to go back down to light-heavy for 175-pound dates against Beterbiev and Bivol. For at least a year, the expectation has been that Benavidez will grow into a heavyweight. Could cruiser be the first step in that direction?

It’s still not clear whether Beterbiev and Bivol will fight for a third time. Bivol is back in the gym after undergoing back surgery. Speculation has him back in the ring this Spring.

Meanwhile, time is the biggest question for Beterbiev. He’ll be 40 next Wednesday. He won’t be fighting much longer, unlike Benavidez whose ascent is just beginning.

David Benavidez wants to put his face on a vacant day

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez, who made more news after the Anthony Yarde fight than he did during it, is seizing the day.

Canelo’s day.

In a sure sign that Benavidez doesn’t intend to waste time waiting while in his prime, he followed up his stoppage of Yarde with an announcement that he plans to fight Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for two pieces of the cruiserweight title on the Cinco de Mayo weekend.

A sudden step up in weight for another title was news, much of it precipitated by uncertainty about whether a third Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev fight will ever happen.

But the real significance was the date, May 2 at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Zurdo, who is scheduled for a Jan. 16 tune-up against Swede Robin Sirwan Safar, confirmed the fight and the date. So did his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. Already, Benavidez has been installed a 3-to-1 favorite by on-line books.

Odds are: A boxing May Day, a possible sea change at the top of the sport, is happening.

For the last couple of decades, the Cinco de Mayo weekend has belonged to the reigning face of the game.

First, there was Floyd Mayweather Jr., who honored the celebration by wearing a mariachi costume that included everything but a trumpet. Then, Canelo Alvarez, who took it back for Mexico.

But Canelo’s September loss to a masterful Terence Crawford and subsequent fall from the top 10 in leading pound-for-pound ratings for the first time since 2018 leaves a possible opening, a vacant throne, there for a successor.

Boldly, Benavidez has put himself first in line.

“I don’t want to waste any more time,” Benavidez told reporters in Riyadh at the top of his post-fight newser after a solid, expected stoppage in a light-heavyweight title defense.

“I want greatness, and I had an opportunity to go up to challenge Ramirez for two titles at cruiserweight.

“I didn’t get the opportunity at 168, and now I am not getting it at 175. So, I am going to make my own lane and achieve greatness, one way or the other.’’

Benavidez, forced to wait for years, no longer has to, in part because of the momentum that came with his victory over Yarde. The Phoenix-born-and-forged fighter goes into his prime – he’ll be 29-years old on Dec. 17 – with his record unbeaten and his options unlimited.

That said, Yarde, a competent gatekeeper, isn’t exactly Terence Crawford. Guess here, Canelo would have easily beaten Yarde, too. Canelo still looms as a factor in what Benavidez can do, will do. For years, he frustrated Benavidez, denying him a shot at his 168-pound undisputed title.

Now suddenly without a belt, Canelo has lost some of his leverage, but none of his influence. He’s still a draw among Mexican fans, ever loyal and the boxing audience’s biggest demographic. Translation: He’s still box-office. Saudi promoter and Prince Turki Alalshikh paid him a reported purse of more than $100 million for fighting Crawford.

Now there are reports that Canelo wants to double down. Reportedly, he wants a rematch, and there are at least 100 million reasons for why he wants the sequel.

But there are no reports on what Crawford intends to do. His brilliant decision over Canelo was proof, the punctuation point to a genuine legacy. It would be hard to repeat.

Why risk it against Canelo or anybody else, for that matter? Then again, Crawford, who maybe got half of what Canelo was paid, might ask for the $100 million-plus in a proposed rematch. That might be enough to draw him back into the ring instead of retirement.

Timing is a big factor, second to only the money. Crawford turned 38 just a couple of weeks after delivering a thorough exhibition of Sweet Science skill in a unanimous decision over Canelo. He’ll surely get older, but probably not better. For him, the clock is ticking. Can he still fight? Stupid question. But the longer he waits, the bigger the risk.

If – a big if – a rematch agreement could be reached in early 2026, May 2 – the Cinco de Mayo weekend — would loom, offering Canelo a chance to reclaim a defining date in a still evolving battle with an impatient rival determined to take it from him, one way or another.

Beyond Canelo: David Benavidez going up scale for good

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez, who is moving up the scale in weight and prominence, didn’t surprise anybody this week when he said he would never fight at super-middleweight again.

He doesn’t have any choice.

Gaining weight and smarts are part of growing up, and the maturing Benavidez is showing a lot of both as he enters his prime at light-heavyweight, a steppingstone toward his hopes of making an enduring statement as perhaps the best of his generation.

Put it this way: At 6-foot-2, Benavidez, who will be 29 on Dec. 17, has a better chance at fighting one day at heavyweight than he has at ever going back to 168 pounds.

The biggest surprise is that he was able to stay at super-middle for as long as he did. He missed weight once, costing him the World Boxing Council’s version of the title in 2020. Over the next three-and-half years, he went on to win six straight bouts as the super-middleweight division’s most feared contender

Truth is, Benavidez is at a weight he probably should have been a few years ago. He actually fought at 175 pounds more than a decade ago – April 2015. As an unknown 18-year-old, he won a fringe NABF title with a first-round stoppage at Celebrity Theatre in hometown Phoenix. Then, he stayed – perhaps overstayed – at 168. A futile wait for a shot at Canelo Alvarez kept him there.

Now, he moves on, beyond a familiar weight and an exasperating wait in his third bout at light-heavy in a title defense against a dangerous gatekeeper, Anthony Yarde, a UK fighter who figures to test Benavidez’ future in his step up the scale Nov. 22 in Riyadh.

Benavidez announced the inevitable in an interview with Fight Hub TV in answer to a question first posed by Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Al-Sheikh at the end of Terence Crawford’s masterful decision over Canelo last month at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

“Can David Benavidez still make 168?” Al-Sheikh asked in a tweet.

Definitely not, Benavidez told Fight Hub.

“I’m done,’’ Benavidez told Fight Hub in his formal farewell to super-middle. “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Crawford. He put on a hell of a performance. He’s up there on the Mount Rushmore of the greatest fighters of all time. Let Crawford do his thing, bro. At the end of the day, I have no interest in fighting Crawford.

“I have no interest in going down to 168. Yeah, it would be dope, winning all the titles, but I’m way past that at 168. I wouldn’t even go down to 168 for Canelo. I’m just being real with you.”

With his decision over Canelo for the unified title at 168, Crawford did Benavidez a real favor. For too long, Benavidez’ career — and identity — had been defined by his chase for a rich date against Canelo. For now, that’s gone, forced by Crawford’s victory and Benavidez’ natural progression up the scale.

But it’s more than just a step away from Canelo. For Benavidez, it also represents a significant early step into his prime. For him, it’s an opportunity to make — and remake — his identity as a potential pound-for-pound contender.

There’s still a chance, of course, that Canelo comes back from elbow surgery and decides he’s finally willing to fight Benavidez, especially if Benavidez beats Yarde and goes on to a unified light heavyweight title against Dmitry Bivol and/or Artur Beterbiev.

There are lots of questions about what’s next for Canelo, yet there’s a consensus that a fight against Benavidez would still make money. Fans have clamored for Canelo-Benavidez for years. They’re not going away.

If that possibility is resurrected, however, it could be on different terms, this time forged by Benavidez, bigger both in body and name.

David Benavidez: The Monster Roars

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — Two days before opening bell, promoter Tom Brown promises violence. Minutes later, David Benavidez says enough to enrage David Morrell and his manager, Luis DeCubas, pushing Brown’s promise ever closer to reality during a contentious news conference Thursday.

Benavidez turned up the rhetoric, elevating the potential hostility by several octaves, with everything from profane threats to personal insults during an angry hour in a ballroom at the MGM Grand.

Ordinarily, trash talk at a boxing news conference is a redundancy. It’s all part of the show. Increasingly however, a method in Benavidez’ madness is apparent. It’s in his words, to be sure. But it’s also in his eyes. Again and again Thursday, the Phoenix-born fighter looked across the table at Morrell and De Cubas with eyes that flashed like sparks off flint. Benavidez, nicknamed The Monster and sounding like one, looks to be serious in the final hours before his light-heavyweight clash with Morrell Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

The trash talk is like another training session, one that further sharpens the edge on his mind and emotion. Ask him about it, and he acknowledges that the verbal exchanges help channel his energies and maybe his anger, too.

That wasn’t apparent in his last fight, a light-heavyweight debut, a bout with former 175-pound champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June. Benavidez won, but without any of the dynamic energy that has been a trademark for so long. He liked Gvozdyk, a quiet and skillful Ukrainian.

“We spoke different languages and we respected each other, unlike this effing guy, who I don’t effing respect at all,’’ Benavidez told The Boxing Hour/15 Rounds as he waved a dismissive gesture toward Morrell’s side of the stage.

One thing became loudly clear at the newser. Benavidez and Morrell understand each other. Both are fluent in profanity. But there were signs that Morrell wanted to insert a little civility to the pre-fight proceedings.

“Peace and love,’’ Morrell, a Cuban living in Minneapolis, said at the end of his first turn at the bully pulpit.

Benavidez reacted to that like a predator pursuing prey.

“Peace and love, what’s the hell is that?’’ Benavidez said. “But I’m not surprised, because I know he’s effing afraid of me.’’

The hostility, sparked by Benavidez, began with a barrage of insults aimed at De Cubas. De Cubas tried to keep his cool as he spoke amid one interruption after another. But it was to no avail. Finally, De Cubas answered, profanity-for-profanity.

“—-sucker,’’ he yelled, throwing out an obscene insult that set the stage for an X-rated show.

It got so bad that Benavidez manager and promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz actually admonished De Cubas.

“I want to apologize for De Cubas’ behavior,’’ said Lewkowicz, who isn’t exactly known for diplomacy. “We didn’t need anybody to scream. This fight sells it itself.’’

But the screaming continued anyway for an intriguing light-heavyweight bout between young fighters, both entering their primes and both unbeaten. They’re both cocksure, which isn’t exactly the word De Cubas used to describe Benavidez. But you get the idea.

After the newser, De Cubas said he wasn’t surprised at how Benavidez went at him.

“We know all about Benavidez’ bullying and all of that other stuff,’’ De Cubas said in the relative calm just outside the doors to the MGM Grand’s media room. “I knew it was coming. But when you behave like that, it’s because of fear. I saw that fear in him. Look, I think he knows that some time during the fight he’s going to realize that he shouldn’t have taken this fight in the first place.

“He’s complaining about not shaking hands. Before that, there was all this stuff about steroids. But we were the first to agree to VADA testing. There’s always something. Why? Because he’s afraid he’s gonna get knocked out.”

Who’s afraid of who? Brown’s promise suggests that nobody is afraid at all. In part, that’s why he’s forecasting violence.

“At the end of the day, we’re selling fights, right?’’ said Benavidez, who lives in Miami these days yet continues to honor his Phoenix roots with PHX boldly stitched onto the waistband of his trunks. “Would I rather say he’s a good fighter? I’m trying to sell the fight. I’m trying to sell pay-per-views. I’m trying to generate interest because if I don’t say anything, this effing guy’s not going to say anything. People are paying hard-earned money for this fight.

“They want to see something. Let’s give them something to see.”

Angry words, but they’re also words from a fighter who hopes to be a peoples champ. Perhaps, The Peoples Champ

“I want to be the Face of Boxing,’’ said Benavidez, who on Thursday was a face hard to ignore.

Harder to silence.

Benavidez-Morrell: Something real after the carnival

By Norm Frauenheim

It’s the first significant fight in a New Year. That’s mere coincidence, but it’s also appropriate.

David Benavidez-versus-David Morrell on February 1, formally announced this week, is all about timing, a theme sure to unfold as both fighters step into their respective primes in only their second fight at light-heavyweight.

In part, it’s a potential stage-setter, both for the sport and the 175-pound division. On the calendar, at least, it’s a chance to move beyond a dreary year, one that figures to be remembered mostly for the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fiasco. Maybe, the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch on Dec. 21 changes all of that. We can hope. Make that pray.

At 175 pounds, it’a a chance for the Benavidez-Morrell winner at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena to move into a shot at perhaps the undisputed title against Artur Beterbiev, although even he is talking about Jake Paul.

Paul is calling himself the Face of the Game, mostly because he’s got the key to the vault. There’s speculation he might even coax Andre Ward out of retirement. Big money can do that, and that’s what Paul’s face brings to prize-fighting, more prize than fight these days. Forget the scars, skills and courage. Cash is the only feature that matters anymore.

Even Saudi Prince Turki Al-Sheikh, who has brought even more cash into the sport, claimed to be the Face after his promotional role in a card featuring accomplished Terence Crawford’s debut victory at junior-middleweight in Los Angeles last summer. Apparently, Al-Sheikh forgot that Crawford had more rights to the Face than just about anybody. When reminded that the reigning Face has to risk that face in the ring, Al-Sheikh — to his credit — backed off.

Meanwhile, Paul’s face eluded most of Tyson’s punches. Then again, there weren’t many to elude. Eighteen landed, for a pathetic average of fewer than three per round over the eight-round farce last Friday in Arlington, Tex. More punches land in shadow boxing.

It was sad because Tyson used to be The Face. But it’s unrecognizable anymore, bought off by anybody with only cash in his skill set.

Can it be restored? Hard to say. But it’s worth a try and maybe Benavidez-Morrell is a place to start.

Start over.

I remember an exchange I had with Paul more than two years ago before he fought mixed-martial-arts legend Anderson Silva at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ, just a few miles of roadwork from the mean streets where Benavidez grew up near downtown Phoenix.

At the news conference in October 2022, I welcomed Paul to Benavidez’ hometown. At the time, Paul was calling out Canelo Álvarez. He still is. So, I asked him if he wanted to fight Benavidez, too. Paul stopped, looked at me intensely and said: “I’m not ready for that.’’

It was an honest answer, a real moment in a business turning into a carnival, a Hall of Mirrors. Nobody knows what they’re looking at anymore.

Last week, I had a theory that most in the crowd of 72,000 at AT&T Stadium and a Netflix audience — estimated at 75 million viewers, worldwide — would not know that Usyk and Fury are fighting a rematch for the undisputed heavyweight title next month. Wouldn’t care either. Now, I’m not even sure many would know who Usyk or Fury are.

To them, the craft is no longer the attraction. Only $pectacle is. They got one, but now there are weird, wild conspiracy theories. $pectacle and conspiracy go together like show and business.

At last report, a class-action lawsuit has been filed by fans unhappy at Netflix’s production of the event. No word on whether they’re unhappy at themselves from buying into the hype.

The Sweet Science?

Nothing Sweet or Scientific about it.

From this corner, the formal announcement of the Benavidez-Morrell date in the aftermath of Tyson-Paul was a relief. It’s something real, old-school and fundamental in a world gone awry.

Maybe, I’m expecting too much from Benavidez and Morrell. But all of the time-honored elements are there for a real fight. A memorable one, too. Nobody 58-years-old will be answering an opening bell. Benavidez is 27. He’ll be 28 on Dec. 18. Morrell is 26. He’ll be 27 on Jan. 17. They’re both unbeaten — Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs).

They’re the face of the future.

For now, that’s the only face we’ve got.

NOTES

Jesus Ramos Jr., a promising junior-middleweight from Casa Grande AZ, will fight on the Benavidez-Morrell undercard. The 23-year-old Ramos was last seen in the corner for his brother Abel in his spirited draw with welterweight champion Mario Barrios on the Paul-Tyson undercard. Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs) will fight former champion Jeison Rosario (29-4-2, 17 KOs). “I’ve learned my lesson about leaving things up to the judges,’’ Ramos said during a news conference this week in Los Angeles. “I can’t do that anymore. I’m coming to knock him out.”

Emanuel Navarrete is a slight favorite to again beat Oscar Valdez in their junior-lightweight rematch Dec. 7 at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. Navarrete is coming off a disappointing performance at a new weight, a split-decision loss at lightweight to Denys Berinychk. Meanwhile, Valdez was impressive in a stoppage of Aussie Liam Wilson, who many believe got robbed of victory over Navarrete in a controversial bout, also in Arizona in 2023. Navarrete is talented, yet erratic. Meanwhile, consistency defines Valdez, whose seemingly inexhaustible resilience continues to make him dangerous.

I’ve already said this on other platforms and I’ll say it again: Tyson-Paul generated real numbers. Real money, too. Here’s a real question: Why was Tyson licensed? In a post after the bout, he talked about dying, saying that he underwent transfusions for excessive bleeding in May from an ulcer that postponed the bout. Yet, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses him anyway? Texas regulators must have known about Tyson’s condition. He talked about it in ominous detail in a story published by New York Magazine before opening bell. Did Texas listen, decide he was exaggerating and license him anyway? If so, we’re fortunate we witnessed only an embarrassment.

TWO OF BOXING’S MOST DYNAMIC SUPERSTARS TO CO-HEADLINE MASSIVE PBC PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT ON PRIME VIDEO SATURDAY, JUNE 15 AS GERVONTA DAVIS & DAVID BENAVIDEZ ENTER THE RING IN SEPARATE BOUTS AT MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS – May 6, 2024 – Two of boxing’s most exciting and popular superstars will share center stage as five-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez compete in separate attractions Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The two fighters will headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video in what will be the historic 100^th championship fight night at the popular sports and entertainment venue.

The undefeated three-division champion Davis will defend his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title. This one-of-a-kind event will give viewers the unique opportunity to see two bona fide fan-favorites on the same night in high-stakes championship clashes.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosted its premiere boxing event in January 1994 and, over its 30-year history, the venue has become synonymous with the sport’s biggest fight nights. Fight fans have watched champions ranging from George Foreman and Julio Cesar Chavez to Roy Jones and Shane Mosley step in the ring and put on a championship display of skill. Epic battles including Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Holyfield vs. Tyson II, Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV, multiple Barrera vs. Morales title fights, and Mayweather vs. Canelo, among others led all boxers to want to fight at the legendary Grand Garden Arena. The June 15 event will mark a celebration of the venue’s storied history as boxing’s next chapter unfolds with these two high-stakes showdowns.

In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.

Tickets for the live event go on sale Wednesday, May 8 beginning at 10 a.m. PT and will be available through www.axs.com.

Pre-sale tickets will be available TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 7 from 10 a.m. PT to 10 p.m. PT through www.axs.com with the code: BOXING

The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.

“Saturday, June 15 will be a spectacular night of boxing with two true superstars of the sport combining forces to deliver can’t-miss action,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Gervonta Davis has proven his star power again and again, and will return to defend his world title against another tough challenge in the undefeated Frank Martin. David Benavídez established himself as a pound-for-pound force last year, and will now seek out dominance in a new weight class against the powerful former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Make sure you tune into this PBC Pay-Per-View event or come out to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.”

“Oleksandr Gvozdyk is a very good fighter, but David Benavídez is forging a path to greatness,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “I commend David for not wanting to wait for Canelo, and for making this bold move to a new division. One way or another, David will continue growing his legacy as a true champion.”

“Saturday, June 15 is going to be like a movie. Frank Martin has put a tremendous amount of work in to get to this point and now it’s time for him to reap the benefits,” said pound-for-pound star Errol Spence Jr., Martin’s promoter. “Gervonta Davis is a great champion, but on that night, he’s going to be matched against a young, hungry and explosive talent ready to shine on the biggest stage. I expect all the fight fans to tap into what will be the biggest event of the year.”

**GERVONTA DAVIS VS. FRANK MARTIN**

Headlining the event will be the return of undefeated boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis as he puts his WBA Lightweight World Championship on the line in a 12-round clash against consensus top-five lightweight contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, who will vie for a world title for the first time in his career.

Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) has held the lightweight title since 2019 and has also won world titles at 130 and 140 pounds during his spectacular career. The Baltimore-native put an emphatic end to a years-long rivalry with Ryan Garcia last year in a crossover fight that gripped the sports world, dropping him in round two before ending the action with a vicious body shot in round seven.

Prior to that fight, he set a new gate record for Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. in January when he stopped the previously unbeaten super featherweight world champion Hector Luis Garcia in the ninth round. Before that triumph he added another highlight-reel KO to his resume, as he dispatched longtime rival Rolando Romero with a thudding left hand in February 2022, in another record-setting event at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The 29-year-old also owns the distinction as the only fighter to stop former three-division champion Leo Santa Cruz and former world champion and current interim welterweight champion Mario Barrios. Davis burst onto the scene with an explosive knockout of Jose Pedraza in 2017 to capture his first world title and won the lightweight strap he currently holds with a 12^th-round KO of former unified champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2019.

“I’m excited to be on a card with someone explosive like David Benavidez; this pay-per-view is definitely gonna be worth it,” said Davis. “I’m happy to be back in the ring. That’s where I’m comfortable at. I’m gonna go in there, be flawless, and do what I do best, which is give the fans the best boxing you’ll see. Come June 15, Frank Martin is gonna see there’s a different beast in front of him.”

The 29-year-old Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) most recently showed that his power can last through a 12-round fight as he dropped the previously unbeaten Artem Harutyunyan in the final frame to clinch a unanimous decision victory last July. His previous outing saw him stamp his status as one of the elite 135-pounders in the sport as he dropped and dominated the then-unbeaten Michel Rivera on his way to a unanimous decision in December 2022.

Fighting under the Man Down Promotions banner ,led by top pound-for-pound fighter Errol Spence Jr., Martin’s initial ascent at 135-pounds saw him begin by stopping then unbeaten Jerry Perez in April 2021 before dispatching of tough contenders Jackson Marinez, Romero Duno and Ryan Kielczweski. Originally from Indianapolis, Ind., Martin now trains in the Dallas-area under the guidance of highly renowned trainer Derrick James.

“I’ve been locked in for a while now and having a really good training camp,” said Martin. “It’ll be an exciting fight on June 15. I expect to get the best version of ‘Tank’, and he’ll get the best version of me. We’ll have a solid game plan to come out with the win on fight night.”

**DAVID BENAVIDEZ VS. OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK**

Co-headlining the event will be the all-action star and two-time world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez as he makes his 175-pound debut in a 12-round duel against the power-punching former world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk as they meet for the vacant Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.

The 27-year-old undefeated Benavídez (28-0, 24 KOs) makes his 2024 debut after a pair of impressive wins marked his standout 2023 campaign. He began the year by besting longtime rival Caleb Plant via unanimous decision in a slugfest from March and followed it up by stopping the previously unbeaten two-division champion Demetrius Andrade in six rounds in November. Benavídez became the youngest-ever 168-pound world champion at just 20-years-old when he defeated Ronald Gavril by split decision for the vacant WBC title in 2017. A Phoenix-native who now lives in Seattle and currently trains in Miami, Benavidez has stamped his place in the super middleweight division but will now look to carry his prodigious talents up to light heavyweight for this fight.

When he was 15 years old, Benavídez went from weighing 250 pounds to a boxing prodigy under the watchful eye of his father and trainer, Jose, Sr., and his brother and veteran contender Jose Jr., as he famously held his own in sparring against middleweight champions Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin as a teenager. Benavídez rode a string of six straight knockout victories heading into the bout against Plant, including KOs of former world champions Anthony Dirrell and David Lemieux.

“I’m very excited to be going to the light heavyweight division to compete against the best 175-pound fighters,” said Benavídez. “I’ve been eyeing that division for a long time, and now I feel like it’s my time. I’m going to go unify the division. I’ve watched Gvozdyk for a long time – I know exactly how he fights. I actually sparred him when I was 20 years old and I know he’s a really tough opponent, so I need to be 100%. This is a hard fight, but I’m going to make it look easy.”

After earning a bronze medal representing his native Ukraine at the 2012 Olympics, Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) turned pro in 2014 and quickly set his sights on the top of the division. He dominated a slew of veteran contenders including Yunieski Gonzalez, Isaac Chilemba, Tommy Karpency and Nadjib Mohammedi on his way to becoming the WBC’s top rated mandatory challenger at 175-pounds. He went on to become WBC champion with an 11^th-round knockout of Adonis Stevenson and defended the title in 2019 by stopping Doudou Ngumbu in round five.

After losing the belt in a unification match against Artur Beterbiev, Gvozdyk returned in 2023 to score three straight victories. He bested Josue Obando in February before knocking out Ricards Bolotniks in May and Isaac Rodrigues in September. Now training and residing in California, Gvozdyk’s amateur career saw him compete in over 250 bouts, including three Ukrainian National Championships that led to his Olympic success.

“I’ve never avoided any challenges, and this is no exception,” said Gvozdyk. “Benavidez is a top caliber fighter and that’s exactly what motivates me to train hard each and every day. If you want to be the best, you have to fight the best. I’m ready to become a champion once again.”

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For more information visit Amazon.com/PBC, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #DavisMartin & #BenavidezGvozdyk, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions

Canelo Who? Benavidez says he’s ready to move on and into his “own lane”

By Norm Fraueneim –

LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez is ready to move on from years of waiting on Canelo Alvarez, yet he still hasn’t eliminated the chance that one day he might fight the celebrated Mexican.

Just hours before Canelo faced super-middleweight challenger Jaime Munguia Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, Benavidez said he was poised to go his own way, upscale and away from his frustrating pursuit of Canelo.

“I want to make my own lane at 175 pounds, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,’’ Benavidez said at a news conference announcing his light-heavyweight date against ex-champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk on a June 15 card featuring Tank Davis-Frank Martin at the MGM Grand. “I’ve done everything I can at 168 pounds.

“The only thing was a fight for the unified title, but Canelo wouldn’t give me the fight.’’

Throughout the days before opening bell for Canelo-Munguia, there were mixed messages from boxing’s pay-per-view star about whether he might agree to fight Benavidez in September.

Yes?

No?

Let’s just say Canelo is a definite maybe.

But the 27-year-old Benavidez can’t wait around. He’s entering his prime. His body is maturing, which inevitably will force him out of the junior-middleweight division. Saturday, Benavidez, a former two-time 168-pound champion, even mentioned cruiserweight.

There are many in the media who think the Phoenix-born fighter will eventually fight at heavyweight.

“If Canelo was there for us in September, yeah, we’d consider it,’’ Benavidez father and trainer Jose told 15 Rounds after the formal part of the news conference. “We could go back down to 168. But whatever Canelo decides, we’ve got to move forward.’’

Against Gvozdyk, the unbeaten Benavidez has a chance to move into position for a 175-pound title. But even that wasn’t as clear Saturday as it had been a few days ago because of a knee injury suffered by Artur Beterbiev.

Beterbiev was scheduled to fight Dmitry Bivol on June 1 in Saudi Arabia. It’s not clear whether another opponent will be found for Bivol or the date with Beterbiev will be postponed to later in the year.

The plan was for the Benavidez-Gvozdyk winner to fight the Beterbiev-Bivol winner for a unified light-heavy title.

“If I can’t be a unified super-middleweight champ, I want to be unified at light-heavy,’’ Benavidez told 15 Rounds. “I want to create my own legacy.

“I just think that Canelo is leaving a great fight, a historical one, on the table.’’

It’s no surprise that the Tank-Martin part of the newser was contentious. Tank tried to slap Martin. He screamed insults at him. It wouldn’t be Tank without trash talk.

“You ain’t nothing, you’re from the suburbs,’’ Tank said to Martin, born in Detroit and now a resident of Indianapolis

Davis, the reigning lightweight champion and a leading pound-for-pound contender, hasn’t fought in more than 12 months, a stretch that included some time behind bars in Baltimore. His last fight was an April, 2023 stoppage of Ryan Garcia, boxing’s undisputed KingChaos. The Ryan reign has become a controversial circus.

“I’m just happy to be back,’’ said Tank, who was nearly an hour late for the news conference. “I’ve been in jail, been on house arrest.

“Things like that.’’

VIDEO: GERVONTA DAVIS VS. FRANK MARTIN & DAVID BENAVIDEZ VS. OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK PRESS CONFERENCE

Beyond Canelo? Benavidez poised to take that first step

By Norm Frauenheim –

Finally, David Benavidez is poised to take his first real step away from Canelo Alvarez in a move to re-define himself on his own terms with a light-heavyweight debut against Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

There’s yet to be a formal announcement, but Benavidez said Wednesday on a Fresh and Fit podcast that he expects to face Gvozdyk on June 22 instead of June 15, possibly in Houston at the Toyota Center.

The bout, he said, is expected to be on a PBC/Amazon Prime card featuring Gervonta Davis’ in his first fight in more than a year against Frank Martin.

Benavidez, a Phoenix-born fighter currently training in Miami, hasn’t exactly given up on the Canelo possibility.

But Canelo’s decision to fight Jaime Munguia on May 4 in Las Vegas and subsequent comments about a Benavidez fight, possibly in September, have left him without many options.

“We’re still trying to look for that Canelo fight,’’ said Benavidez, who at 27 will move up and out of the super-middleweight division in June.

But, he also said, “I don’t think that Canelo fight is gonna happen, so I’ve got to move on.’’

Canelo sent him that message a couple of weeks ago when he said he would only fight Benavidez for a prohibitive purse – “$150 million to $200 million.’’

That sounds as if it was just another way for Canelo to say it’s just not going to happen.

Initially, however, Canelo’s price tag fueled speculation that the Saudis would be interested. But apparently Canelo’s demands were even too rich for them.

Instead, Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the oil-rich country’s General Entertainment Authority, said he’d be interested in the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol winner for the undisputed 175-pound title against Benavidez, if Benavidez beats Gvozdyk. Beterbiev-Bivol is set for June 1 in Riyadh.

Benavidez, who first indicated he was ready to move beyond Canelo last year, is still frustrated with Mexico’s pay-per-view star.

In deciding to fight Munguia in May, Canelo called Munguia “respectful’’ – a shot at Benavidez, who is not.

Over the last couple of years, Canelo has been angered by trash talk from Benavidez and his father/trainer Jose Benavidez Sr.

“Canelo,” Benavidez said, “is with this bull—-, ‘He needs to be respectful.’

“I’m not going to bow my knee to nobody, because I’ve earned my shot for the belts.’’

Benavidez is the World Boxing Council’s mandatory challenger to Canelo, the undisputed 168-pound champion. But the WBC has done nothing to enforce that so-called mandatory.

Instead, the WBC took the unusual step of announcing plans for Benavidez-Gvozdyk, a light-heavyweight eliminator for a fight with the Beterbiev-Bivol winner.

Usually, fights are planned and announced by the promoter, in this case PBC (Premier Boxing Champions).

It was as if the WBC was offering Benavidez an alternative in an attempt to sidestep any controversy that would surround a threat to strip Canelo of the belt if he did not agree to face the unbeaten fighter from Phoenix.

“I try not to say too much,” Benavidez said, “because if I say he’s scared, people say I’m a hater. ‘What have you proved?’

“I’m the No. 1 contender. I don’t need to prove s—. I have beat the people they have told me to beat so I can fight for the title.

“I’ve done that over and over again. I’ve been his mandatory challenger for three years. That has never happened. Canelo is the money man right now.’’

Money equals power, and Canelo has plenty of both.

He’s already on record as saying he makes his own decisions.

“I will do what I want to do,’’ he told LA Times-Espanol in a video interview Thursday — a comment that will force Benavidez to do what he has to.

Canelo-Benavidez: Canelo demands prohibitive numbers

By Norm Frauenheim –

Canelo Alvarez threw out a couple of numbers that would seem to eliminate any chance he’ll ever fight David Benavidez

“One-hundred-and-fifty million dollars to $200-million,’’ Canelo said this week at a news conference formally announcing his May 4 fight with Jaime Munguia at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena.

Not even Donald Trump can come up with that kind of money these days.

It’s hard to know whether Canelo is serious, but conventional wisdom

suggests that the prohibitive purse numbers are just another way of Canelo telling Benavidez that it’s just not going to happen.

But fantasy numbers have also ignited more Benavidez-Canelo trash talk, which seemed to enter another inflationary spiral this week.

Benavidez fired back from Miami, where the Phoenix-born fighter is training for a light-heavyweight fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, projected for June 15.

“Hopefully, after you make that $150 million, you have enough left over to buy a pair of nuts,” Benavidez said on his Instagram account.

Presumably, he wasn’t talking about a couple of Pistachios.

Nobody has yet given up on a Benavidez-Canelo possibility in September. Even Benavidez mentioned it in an Instagram post early Thursday.

“Just wait on it,’’ Benavidez posted. “don’t be surprised when this fight happens in September.’’

First, however, a lot would have to happen. Canelo has to beat Munguia. That’s considered likely. From this corner, however, Munguia has a real chance to take Canelo’s undisputed super-middleweight title in what would be a huge upset.

The 26-year-old Munguia, who in January did what Canelo could not in stopping John Ryder in Phoenix, has young legs. If he can take the fight into the late rounds – say, the eighth — he’s got a shot.

It’s no secret that Canelo runs out of gas down the stretch.

Then, there’s Benavidez, who will get a look at his future at a heavier weight against the competent Gvozdyk, a former 175-pound champion.

As of Thursday, there was still no word on where Benavidez and Gvozdyk will fight on a card also expected to feature Tank Davis, who hasn’t fought since last April’s stoppage of Ryan Garcia.

Moving on up

Emanuel Navarrete’s move up to lightweight is official. He’ll fight Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk on May 18 for a vacant World Boxing Organization in San Diego, Top Rank announced this week.

Navarrete, already a three-division champ, is expected to win. If he does, he figures to vacate the WBO junior-lightweight title.

That could open the door for the Oscar Valdez-Liam Wilson winner to land a possible shot at the vacated belt.

Valdez and Wilson, both beaten by Navarrete last year, fight March 29 – next week Friday — at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ in the main event on an ESPN-televised card.

David Benavidez agrees to plan for a 175-pound bout versus Gvozdyk

David Benavidez is moving up.

But not necessarily on.

Benavidez intends to move up the scale to light heavyweight, one division above the Canelo Alvarez-dominated super-middle division, for an interim 175-pound title against Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

“That’s the plan,’’ Benavidez father-and-trainer Jose Benavidez told 15 Rounds Thursday, confirming a social media announcement from World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman. “We came to an agreement yesterday (Wednesday).’’

Jose Benavidez did not eliminate the Canelo possibility. Speculation continues to swirl about Canelo’s projected May 4 date, the first of two this year. He’s also expected to fight on September 16. Benavidez continues to be a possibility for either date.

David Benavidez, who has been calling out Canelo for a couple of years, continues to be mentioned on a speculative list that spins faster than a dizzy roulette wheel. One day, it’s Jermall Charlo. The next day, Jaime Munguia. It could stop on Terence Crawford any day.

As of Thursday, it was still not clear what Canelo would do. Last week, the talk was that he’d fight Charlo. This week, it’s Munguia, the emerging Mexican who fought his way into the Canelo sweepstakes with a four-knockdown stoppage of John Ryder in Phoenix last month.

In a news conference a couple of weeks ago, Canelo teased that he’d be fighting an American in May. Charlo is American. So is Benavidez. Munguia is not. In any language, it’s chaos.

Translation: Who knows?

The ongoing uncertainty forces Benavidez, 27, to re-think his career, which has been defined by his pursuit of Canelo. He’d rather fight than wait. In 2024, that’s what he’ll do in an attempt to re-make himself on his own terms instead of Canelo’s. When and where that begins, however, is still uncertain.

June is one possibility. June 15 has been mentioned. But so is May, Jose Benavidez said.

“if that other guy (Canelo) can’t decide on somebody for May, maybe we’ll move on to that date against Gvozdyk,’’ Jose Sr. told 15 Rounds.

Whenever-wherever-whoever, it’s clear that Benavidez plans to fight at 175 pounds sometime over the next 10 months. His promoter/manager Sampson Lewkowicz confirmed as much Thursday on X, formerly Twitter.

“Boxing is unpredictable and can change multiple times in a day,’’ Lewkowicz posted. “Yes” PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) in coordination with Team Benavidez. …a guarantee of ($) 55 Million was offered to Team Canelo that would exceed 60 M by adding Azteca Sports PPV and more or We are moving to 175 Lbs.’’

That move has been inevitable since Benavidez lost the WBC title on the scale in August 2020. Then 23, he failed to make the 168-pound limit before blowing out Roamer Alexis Angulo. He hasn’t missed weight since, but it was clear then that light-heavyweight was just a matter of time.

Benavidez’ unfolding career is already notable. He’s a former, two-time super-middleweight champion, yet still unbeaten. He lost the WBC’s 168-pound belt for the first time because of a positive test for cocaine.

Now, he has a chance to become a current two-time, mandatory challenger. He’s already Canelo’s mandatory. However, it’s not clear what that means, especially in a bid to fight Canelo, the pay-per-view star who gets what he wants.

The WBC officially awarded Benavidez its super-middleweight mandatory in November, but the ruling body has yet to do anything to enforce it.

A victory over Gvozdyk would include an interim light-heavyweight title. Presumably, that would also include another mandatory, although Sulaiman’s post said only that the WBC would sanction the fight for the interim belt.

No mandatory mentioned for what could – should — be a shot at the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol winner of a fight for the undisputed 175-pound title on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.

NOTES: After Thursday’s news, Jose Benavidez left for Miami to train his son. David Benavidez, who began his boxing career in hometown Phoenix, recently bought a condo in Miami, his dad said. The Benavidez family, including older brother Jose Jr., have been living in Seattle. … Jose Benavidez Jr., a former junior welterweight and welterweight, is coming off a loss to middleweight Jermall Charlo, who blew off a contracted catch weight. Jose Jr. will continue to fight, his dad said.

Waiting on Canelo: For David Benavidez, it never ends

By Norm Frauenheim –

Jaime Munguia fought his way into the argument with a dramatic stoppage of John Ryder that transforms him into another option for Canelo Alvarez and another potential source of frustration for David Benavidez.

Where all of this leaves Benavidez is still anybody’s guess. For now, at least, he’s where he’s always been.

Waiting, waiting for a shot that he demands and deserves, yet one that continues to be as elusive as ever.

In the here and now, he’s boxing’s version of Florida State. Unbeaten, yet still left without a chance at winning the biggest prize in the crowded super-middleweight division. Fair? Of course, not. But fair is a quaint notion in boxing, college football, politics and life. It’s just another bloody nose. If you want fair, play checkers.

In this game, protect yourself at all times, because a cheap shot is always lurking.

That brings us to Jermall Charlo. By all accounts, he is the leading possibility for Canelo’s next fight, projected to be on May 4. In his promotional role in behalf of Munguia, Oscar De La Hoya said last Saturday after the four-knockdown TKO of Ryder in Phoenix – Benavidez’ hometown – that he expects Canelo to fight Charlo next.

By now, I guess nobody should be surprised. Canelo fought a Charlo, Jermell, in his last fight in September. The plan had been for him to fight Jermall. Then, however, Jermell got the date, apparently because his twin brother still needed time to recover from some reported mental-health issues.

Jermell or Jermall, it was a dud. Jermell, a junior-middleweight champion, was just there to collect a paycheck. It says here that in the ring the only difference between Jermell and Jermall is a vowel and a few pounds. The rumored fight in May figures to be a repeat.

Put it this way: Before Canelo, Jermell had never fought at super-middleweight. Neither has Jermall, who in his last fight won a unanimous decision, yet couldn’t stop Jose Benavidez Jr., David’s older brother and a former junior welterweight and welterweight. Before beating the smaller Jose Jr., Jermall blew off a contracted catchweight, 163 pounds. He was more than three pounds too heavy.

Here’s the question: From resume to weight, on what scale does this Charlo merit a shot Canelo? Munguia is more worthy. He blew out Ryder, a respected contender whom Canelo failed to stop. Munguia won a narrow decision at 168 pounds over Sergiy Derevyanchenko last June in the Fight of the Year.

Then, there’s Benavidez, who has been at super-middleweight his whole career. He’s unbeaten and unique in that he’s a two-time former World Boxing Council champion. He lost those titles, once for testing positive for cocaine and then for failing to make weight. In a sign of his growing maturity, he was nominated for 2023 Fighter of the Year.

On any scale, his resume outweighs Jermall Charlo’s, in credibility, especially among fans who have been calling for Benavidez-Canelo for a couple years.

Benavidez is also designated as the WBC’s mandatory challenger to Canelo, the undisputed champion. He has been since November. But the WBC has yet to do anything to enforce that mandatory.

Eddie Hearn, Ryder’s promoter, summed it up best a week ago in Phoenix when asked by 15 Rounds whether the mandatory designation means anything.

“Not really, especially if you’re Canelo Alvarez,’’ Hearn said in a wry, spot-on comment.

Meanwhile, there are other circumstances that could leave Benavidez waiting, or maybe moving up to light heavyweight. It’s no coincidence perhaps that people around light-heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev are already starting to talk about Benavidez, whose manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, says will probably fight somebody sometime this spring, perhaps in May.

It’s almost as if Canelo looks at Benavidez and sees a light-heavyweight, anyway. He’s shown about as much real interest in facing Benavidez as he has in a rematch with light-heavy champ Dmitry Bivol.

After Bivol upset him in May 2022, Canelo initially vowed he would avenge the scorecard loss. He talked about a rematch. That’s all he did. It never happened.

According to Bivol’s management, there were never any substantive negotiations for a rematch.

Still, stories continue to circulate about Benavidez and Bivol sparring a couple of years ago. According to Benavidez, he got the best of Bivol.

Has Canelo decided that neither is in his future? Maybe.

Meanwhile, the Beterbiev corner is hearing the same stories that everyone else is. According to multiple reports – still speculative, Canelo plans to follow a Charlo bout in May with a catchweight date against undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound No.1 Terence Crawford in September.

The possibility has been circulating in social media for months. Now, there’s doubt about whether Crawford will ever fight Errol Spence in a contracted rematch.

Spence, who got blown out by Crawford in a July stunner, is coming off cataract surgery. He’s undergone two eye surgeries – one on each eye – within the last three years. Without Spence, where does Crawford go? There’s talk of Boots Ennis. Maybe, Tim Tszyu at junior middleweight, Maybe Jermell Charlo.

At 36, however, maybe it’s time for Crawford to cash out. There’s no better way to do that than in an event sure to attract the so-called crossover crowd against the 33-year-old Canelo, whose legacy among Mexican fans is probably secure regardless of whether he fights Benavidez or just continues to duck him.

VIDEO: Oscar De La Hoya Talks Ryan Garica’s next fight and David Benavidez

De La Hoya says David Benavidez deserves the Canelo fight more than anyone

By Norm Frauenheim –

PHOENIX – Oscar De La Hoya and Jaime Munguia were in David Benavidez’ old neighborhood Wednesday, talking to kids gathered at a Boys & Girls Club near a busy freeway.

In another time and place, one of those kids could have been a Benavidez.

David and his brother Jose Jr. grew up a couple blocks from the club founded by former Suns owner and general manager Jerry Colangelo.

They’ve moved on, yet they don’t forget those streets on Phoenix’s westside. It’s why they fight. Maybe, it’ says something about how they fight, too. But those streets are there. You can hear them in their words. You can see them on waistbands, trunks and robes that include the PHX logo, a symbol of their identity and fan base.

Ignore them at your peril.

De La Hoya didn’t.

“He is the guy, the most deserving guy,’’ De La Hoya said three days before opening bell before the Golden Boy-promoted Munguia fights John Ryder in a bout that could set the table for what — or who – is next for Canelo.

De La Hoya picked the right place and time to talk about David Benavidez, who somehow has not been included in the discussion about Canelo’s next fight, expected in May.

Munguia’s name is there, prominently, in speculation that is the theme of his DAZN-streamed super-middleweight fight with Ryder on the Suns home floor at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix, about six miles from where De La Hoya was standing Wednesday.

Jermall Charlo, a middleweight champion who beat former junior-welterweight Jose Jr. after failing to make a 163-pound catchweight in November, is also mentioned.

So, too, is pound-for-pound king and undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

Also, Ryder, who went 12 rounds in losing a decision to Canelo last May in Guadalajara, is fighting to put himself back in the argument. Maybe, he does, if he upsets Munguia and looks impressive in pulling it off.

But Benavidez? He’s mostly missing in all the talk preceding a key fight in his hometown.

It’s a surprise, big to even De La Hoya, who hopes Munguia beats Ryder with the stoppage that eluded Canelo in his hometown.

“I’m shockingly surprised,’’ De La Hoya said. “David has to be there, in any discussion.’’

He’s not, perhaps, because of boxing’s tangled, tortured politics and simple timing. Canelo and Benavidez are both aligned with PBC (Premier Boxing Champions).

Canelo has two fights left on a three-fight PBC deal signed last year. From a promotional perspective, the third fight – expected in September — against Benavidez makes the most financial

sense.

But Benavidez is tired of waiting. He‘s been calling out Canelo for a couple of years. Benavidez is also the World Boxing Council’s mandatory challenger for the WBC piece of Canelo’s undisputed title. It’s not exactly clear what mandatory means anymore.

To wit: Why not next May instead of September?

“For sure, nobody is more deserving than David,’’ De La Hoya said. “Nobody.

“I hope it happens. I want it to happen. I just think David has to stay on Canelo. He has to keep talking about it.

“In some ways, it reminds me of when I was younger and fought Julio Cesar Chavez. I was the young lion. Those (two) fights (both De La Hoya victories) were like passing the torch. Like Julio, Canelo is the big name, the star. But David is bigger and younger. Maybe Canelo sees that. I don’t know’’

For De La Hoya, the business at hand is to get Munguia a victory that can’t be ignored by fans and especially Canelo.

“I’m hoping he makes a statement,’’ De La Hoya said.

De La Hoya also said that he’d be happy to talk about a fight between Benavidez and Munguia.

Absolutely,’’ De La Hoya said. ”Munguia is willing to fight anybody. Anybody.”

Apparently, De La Hoya is already talking to Benavidez, but not necessarily about Munguia.

“As I was driving over here, I got a message from David on my phone,’’ De La Hoya said Wednesday. “He told me he’s in Mexico. He said he’s in Guadalajara.

“Says he’s looking for Canelo.’’

David Benavidez stops Andrade, calls out Canelo

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS –David Benavidez promised.

And he punished.

He did to Demetrius Andrade what he did to David Lemieux and so many others. It was another moment in his demolition tour, an uninterrupted dominance of every super-middleweight other than the one he has been pursuing for so long.It was also another edition of the long-running message he has been delivering like punches at a machine-gun rate.

“Canelo, give the people the fight they want, Canelo Alvarez-versus-David Benavidez,” he said in the center of the ring to a roaring crowd just minutes after breaking down and breaking apart Andrade.

Who knows if Canelo was in the audience for Showtime’s final pay-per-view fight Saturday night at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena? If he was, however, he had to be impressed.

Andrade, unorthodox and unbeaten before opening bell, was simply undone by the aggressive Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), who knocked him down with right hand in the fourth round and then battered him through the next two rounds. There are few fighters with Benavidez kind of momentum.

Once he gets going, he’s a freight train rolling down a steep incline. Get the hell of his way. Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) couldn’t. After six rounds, he had no option other than surrender.

At ringside, there was Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight great who gave Benavidez his current nickname, The Monster.

Benavidez, who emerges as the World Boxing Council’s mandatory challenger to Canelo, went over and hugged him, perhaps an embrace between the modern version of the monster Tyson once was.

“I’m the best and I’m going to be the best,” Benavidez told a crowd full of his fans from Phoenix, his hometown. “i’m going to be a legend.”

Tyson smiled.

Andrade didn’t argue.

No telling what Canelo thought

Charlo scores one-sided decision over Jose Benavidez

It was a fight preceded by insults, broken promises and fines.

But the profanity didn’t matter. The broken promises were followed by fines. The fight went on after one fighter, Jermall Charlo, paid $75,000 for every pound heavier than a contracted catchweight.

After all of that, it was a fight that went the way it was expected to. Chaos was the prediction. But there was none.

A bigger man beat a smaller man.

Charlo, a middleweight champion who hasn’t made a title defense in 29 months, beat Jose Benavidez Jr., a former junior-welterweight and welterweight contender.

Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) scored a unanimous decision. Saturday night at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena. Argue with the score cards. The margins might have been too wide. The judges had it 98-92, 99-91 and 100-90. The third card, a shutout, seemed unfair to Benavidez (28-3-1, 19 KOs) who was never off his feet and appeared to make a competitive fight out of the early rounds.

But in the end, he simply wasn’t going to beat a fighter who was at least 15 pounds heavier. Charlo’s weight at opening bell wasn’t announced. He was ordered to be no more than 176 pounds at a secondary weigh-in Saturday morning, about 24 hours after he failed to make the 163-pound catch weight. Anything more than 176 pounds, would have cost him at least another $75,0000 per pound.

Whatever the final toll, he left the ring with his wallet a lot lighter. But that didn’t weaken his leverage-per-pound against a fighter who was simply too small to be in the ring with him.

Charlo knew that. After the scores were announced, he sounded more relieved than happy.

“Thank God, both of us are going home to our families healthy,” he said.

Benavidez, never a man with nothing to say before the fight, left the ring without a word.

After a long 10 rounds, maybe there just wasn’t anything left to say. He was out of answers. Maybe, energy, too.

Later, during an interview from his dressing room, he had this to say:

“He’s a good fighter, I’m not going to make any excuses. I came to fight. He said he was going to back me up and I didn’t back up. I kept coming forward. The best man won tonight.

“It’s boxing. I thought it was way closer than the judges’ said it was. At the end of the day I lost, and I’m not going to make any excuses.

“I don’t know if his extra weight had anything to do with it. Maybe. Maybe not. I came prepared. I gave my best. I’m going to take some time off – it’s the holidays. Of course, I’d like to run it back at the actual weight. At 160. If you weigh me right now I’m probably 165, and he still can’t do s— to me. It’s all good. I’m not worried about it. I gave it my all, and I came up short.”

Benavidez, ever fearless, opened the bout with abundant energy. He landed a straight right hand that bounced off Charlo’s face like a wicked tennis ball. It echoed throughout the arena. Benavidez also moved stubbornly forward, backing Charlo into the ropes and then into his corner. It was then, however, that Charlo answered with a flash of power, delivered like a pointed message from his bigger, stronger body.

Benavidez backed off. But his retreat didn’t go far. Didn’t last long either.

In the second and third, he continued his march into harm’s way, straight into Charlo’s dangerous wheelhouse. Charlo would throw a punch; Benavidez would counter with combos. The crowd roared. There was a chorus of chants.

Benavidez, Benavidez, was the lyric from fans who had traveled to Vegas from Phoenix, his hometown.

Jose, Jose.

Benavidez continued to give them hope with more combos and repeated bursts of energy. Increasingly, however, there were signs that the bigger blows from Charlo were beginning to have an impact.

In the seventh, Benavidez’ face bore the reddening signs of a bruising impact from Charlo’s punches. In the eighth, there were fewer combos from Benavidez. His hands began to drop. His chances began to diminish. It looked as if an energy crisis loomed. In the tenth, it landed, leaving with one more loss in his record and probably a purse fattened by a percentage of the fines paid by Charlo.

Matias Retains Title with 6th Round Stoppage

Subtriel Matias is in the quitting business. Business is very good.

It continued uninterrupted and seemingly unstoppable Saturday,when Matias, the International Boxing Federation’s junior-welterweight champion, forced a fifth straight opponent to surrender Saturday night at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

This time, it was a wiry-like fighter from Uzbekistan, Shohjahom Ergashev.

Matias (20-1, 20 KOs), of Puerto Rico, endured his punches early and then exhausted him with his own, forcing his corner to say no-mas a couple of seconds after the bell sounded for the start of the sixth round.

Matias’ stubborn power, he said, is a result of the work his team has done. It’s also a result of patience followed by wild bursts of energy. Ergashev (23-1, 20 KOs) simply could not slow him down.

Lamont Roach wins junior-lightweight crown

Wait and worry has been a story line to Lamont Roach’s career.

The story ended Saturday night.

He can quit waiting. For now, he can quit worrying.

Roach (24-1-1, 9 KOs) won, finally calming a junior-lightweight world title, with a split decision over Hector Garcia (16-2, 10 KOs) in a Showtime pay-per-view bout on the card featuring David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

In an otherwise close bout, Roach took control in the final two rounds, knocking Garcia into the ropes with a piston-like punch in the eleventh and then scoring a debatable knockdown in the twelfth with a left to the back of Gracia’s head.

“I think I did enough,” said Roach, of Upper Marlboro MD, a winner on two scorecards, 116-111 and 114-113. “He played kind of a cat-and-mouse game .’

Garcia, who was favored 114-113 on the third card, said he accepted the judging.

“I thought I won,” he said. “But they counted it as a knockdown in the twelfth. He hit me in the back of the head. Without that, it would have been different.”

Mercado scores junior-welterweight shutout

Mercado scores junior-welterweight shutoutFrom precision to poise, Israel Mercado had it all.

He used it all, too, scoring a four-round shutout of Wesley Rivers Saturday night on the non-televised portion of the the Benavidez-Andrade fight at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay.

Mercado (10-1-1, 8 KOs), a junior-welterweight from Pomona CA, scored at will from several angles in a one-sided decision over Rivers (4-4), of Dearborn Heights MI.

First-time winner

It wasn’t easy, but Alenn Medina finally moved into the win column.

Medina (1-1), a welterweight from Las Vegas, had just enough of an edge in aggression to get a majority decision over Alex Holley (1-1), a Dallas fighter who landed in the loss column for the first time.

In the fourth fight of the night Michel “Salsa Ali” Rivera 24-1 (14KOs) of Miami, FL took on Sergey Lipinets 17-2-1(13KOs) fighting out of Woodlands CA. The action began with Rivera establishing his Jab and keeping Lipinets off balance. Jabbing continued through the round and not much action from Lipinets. Sergey stepped it up in the second round as both fighters picked it up with the volume of punches. The third did not see too much of anything, just a warning from the referee about holding and hitting behind the head area.

In the fourth — just as Rivera landed a stunning right — Lipinets came back in his own right, landing a good left just as the round ended. Rivera once again wobbled his opponent. The fifth of the scheduled 10 was arguably the best round of the fight. Each fighter seemed to hurt one another — Lipinets with lefts and Rivera with rights.

As the fight went into the later rounds the pace slowed. Few meaningful punches landed. The fight went all 10 rounds and was a good showcase for Rivera. Rivera went on to win the unanimous decision — 97-93, 97-93, 96-94. Improving to 25-1 (14KOs)….By David Galaviz

Vito Mielnicki wins first round stoppage

Vito Mielnicki Jr. calls himself White Magic.

Saturday, he was White Lightning.

Mielnicki (16-1, 11 KOs) struck fast. Struck twice, all within the first round of the third bout Saturday on the Benavidez-Andrade card..

First, he dropped Alexis Salazar (25-6, 10 KOs), of Norwalk CA, with what looked like a glancing blow. Then, he struck with a head-rocking straight hand, finishing Salazar at 2:27 of the first round..

Jubin Chollet scores knockdown, wins split decision

It was timely, It was precise. It was the difference.

Jubin Chollet (9-0, 7 KOs), a lightweight from San Diego, needed a knockdown and he got one, flooring Jorge Perez (6-1, 2 KOs) with a beautifully-placed right hand in the fifth round of the second bout Saturday on the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade card. It was just enough for Cholley to win a split decision. He won 57-56 on two cards. It was 57-56 for Perez on the third.

First Bell: Daniel Blancas scores unanimous decision

The show opened In an arena filled with only chilly November temperatures and echoes from punches from super-middleweight Daniel Blancas and Raiko Santana.

In the end, the loudest shots were landed by Blancas (8-0, 4 KOs), a long and lanky Milwaukee fighter who won a 76-75, 78-73, 77-74 decision over Raiko Santana in a Saturday matinee, the opener on a car featuring David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Blancas, who had Benavidez trainer Jose Benavidez in his corner, relied on his superior reach to keep Santana

(10-4, 6 KOs), of El Paso, at a distance.

LIVE FIGHTS: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Prelims | SHOWTIME PPV Countdown

VIDEO: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Weigh-In | SATURDAY on SHOWTIME PPV

BENAVÍDEZ VS. ANDRADE OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND COMMISSION OFFICIALS

Interim WBC Super Middleweight World Title – 12 Rounds

David Benavídez – 167 lbs.

Demetrius Andrade – 167.6 lbs.

Referee: Thomas Taylor; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), David Sutherland (Okla.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

Middleweights – 10 Rounds

Jermall Charlo – 166.4 lbs

José Benavídez Jr. – 161.2 lbs.

Note: Contracted weight was 163. Fight will go on as scheduled.

Referee: Harvey Dock; Judges: Max DeLuca (N.Y), Dave Moretti (Nev.), Zachary Young (Calif.)

IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Subriel Matías – 139.8 lbs.

Shohjahon Ergashev – 139.8 lbs.

Referee: Celestino Ruiz; Judges: David Sutherland (Okla.), Don Trella (Conn.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

WBA Super Featherweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Héctor Garcia – 129.4 lbs.

Lamont Roach – 129.6 lbs.

Referee: Tony Weeks; Judges: Tim Cheatham (Nev.), Max DeLuca (N.Y.), Robert Hoyle (Nev.)

SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN

Stream Live at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

on the SHOWTIME SPORTS^® YouTube Channel and the

SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook Page

Super Lightweights – 10 Rounds

Sergey Lipinets – 139.4 lbs.

Michel Rivera – 138.8 lbs.

Referee: Celestino Ruiz; Judges: Eric Cheek (Nev.), Glenn Feldman (Conn.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)

Super Welterweights – 10 Rounds

Vito Mielnicki Jr. – 153.2 lbs.

Alexis Salazar – 152.8 lbs.

Referee: Robert Hoyle; Judges: Lisa Giampa (Nev.), Chris Migliore (Nev.), David Sutherland (Okla.)

Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME PPV telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will handle blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. SHOBOX: The New Generation^® commentator and award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show co-host Brian Campbell will serve as the ringside reporter. A pair of Hall of Famers round out the telecast team – world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., and boxing historian Steve Farhood, who will serve as unofficial scorer. Four-time Emmy^® Award winner David Dinkins, Jr. is the executive producer. The producer is Ray Smaltz III and the director is Bob Dunphy. Sportscaster Alejandro Luna will call the action in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former world champion and SHOBOX: The New Generation commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving as the expert analyst.

The SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN show is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show co-host Luke Thomas with special guest esteemed trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards.

# # #

ABOUT BENAVÍDEZ VS. ANDRADE

Benavídez vs. Andrade will see undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavídez defend his Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title against unbeaten two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade headlining a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

The pay-per-view telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature undefeated WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo against exciting contender José Benavídez Jr. in a 10-round non-title WBC special event in the co-main event. Plus, hard-hitting IBF 140-pound world champion Subriel Matías faces unbeaten mandatory challenger Shohjahon Ergashev and WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Héctor García duels top-rated mandatory challenger Lamont Roach in the telecast opener.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #BenavidezAndrade, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Canelo Who? David Benavidez says his own era is about to begin

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez sounds as if he is ready to be more than just another fighter chasing Canelo Alvarez.

Benavidez introduced bold aspirations, saying he wants to be a force all his own instead of just another name in the Canelo lottery, Wednesday at a public workout for his super-middleweight date Saturday with Demetrius Andrade.

“I think this is the start of the Benavidez era,’’ he said to a crowd of onlookers on the casino floor at Mandalay Bay, not far from the Michelob ULTRA Arena where he defended the first of two titles in a

victory over Ronald Gavril as a 20-year-old in 2018.

He was a kid, then. Nearly six years later, he’s a feared fighter, still young, yet just entering his prime and on a path that he believes will put him where Canelo has been.

He talked about a chance at making some history, which was Canelo’s mantra until he ran into Dmitry Bivol, a light-heavyweight who upset him and his ambitions in May 2022.

It’s not as if Canelo isn’t still on Benavidez’ horizon. The undisputed super-middleweight champion is there, dangerous as ever, as the next possibility for Benavidez, who will turn 27 on Dec. 17.

The World Boxing Council decided a couple of weeks ago at a convention in Uzbekistan that the Benavidez-Andrade winner will be Canelo’s mandatory challenger. These days, that could mean just about anything. Canelo’s celebrity and earning power equal clout. He calls his own shots. There’s talk of him fighting welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford.

There’s also uncertainty about the boxing business. The Benavidez-Andrade fight is Showtime’s last pay-per-view card. There’s still no news about a new broadcast network.

Canelo, the pay-per-view star of his generation, doesn’t come cheap. His purses have doubled and tripled since he collected $12 million for his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

But it’s clear that Benavidez is anxious to get out from under Canelo’s dominance. For years, he called out Canelo. For years, Canelo told him — in so many words — to get in line.

“I’m so sick of talking about Canelo,’’ said Benavidez’ father and trainer Jose Benavidez, whose older son, Jose Jr., fights middleweight champion Jermall Charlo in a contentious co-main event. ”He’s been fighting little guys.’’

Canelo scored a dominant decision over Charlo’s twin brother, junior-middleweight Jermell Charlo, in his last outing, a bout that looked a lot like a tune-up.

Since beating the smaller Charlo, there’s not been much comment from Canelo about Benavidez or his chances at being the mandatory challenger. Late Wednesday, he was nearly a 4-1 favorite over Andrade, a former middleweight and junior-middleweight champion.

But Benavidez doesn’t seem to care what Canelo thinks anymore.

“To be honest, I’m not worried about Canelo,’’ said the Phoenix-born fighter, now a Seattle resident who continues to wear the PHX acronym on his trunks. “I want to clean out the division.

“I promise you I will not disappoint you. This will be the best fight – to date – of my career.

That starts, he said, with Andrade, a former Olympian with a comprehensive skillset. The 35-year-old Andrade knows his way around the ring.

He can challenge Benavidez with versatility and agile footwork, both of which figure to be an intriguing test of Benavidez’ patience, maturity and emerging ambition.

Benavidez seeking KO

Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) is confident he can stop the unbeaten Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs).

His promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz is sure of it.

“I promise you David will knock out Andrade,’’ Lewkowicz told the workout crowd.

A reason might the size of the ring. It’s the traditional 20-by-20, smaller than the 22-by-22-foot ring for Benavidez’ unanimous decision over Caleb Plant last March.

Plant, who has some of Andrade’s boxing skill, was able to use the bigger ring — the result of a contract demand — to elude some of Benavidez’ punishing pursuit, especially in the final rounds.

VIDEO: Benavidez vs. Andrade: Open Workout | November 25th on SHOWTIME PPV