Two-time world champion David Benavidez is aiming for a major fight against one of boxing’s marquee names should he defeat Ronald Ellis in their WBC super-middleweight title eliminator at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Saturday night.
Talented but with questionable discipline in the past, Benavidez (23-0, 20 KOs) has lost the WBC crown twice previously for matters outside of the ring following a positive drug test for cocaine in 2018 and a losing battle with the scales before a defence against Roamer Alexis Angulo last year.
But now the Phoenix fighter feels rejuvenated and ready to take on the best around the 168lbs and 160lbs divisions with WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo, unified super-middleweight king Canelo Alvarez and IBF 168lbs title holder Caleb Plant all catching his eye.
“The Charlo fight is the one that I want to make happen in September. Charlo has a lot to say about me and at the end of the day we are probably the best fighters in PBC and at Showtime. So why not make it happen?” said Benavidez. “He doesn’t really have anyone else at 160 so it seems like a fight that should be fairly easy to make. I think Charlo makes the most sense because we both need a signature win to get to Canelo.
“Canelo is the big fish, and everyone wants the big fish. Whoever fights Canelo has to be at the pinnacle of their game. Without a doubt, Canelo is one of the best fighters today and I’m not taking anything away from him. But I feel like right now where I’m at in my life, I’m ready to accept a challenge like that. I just had a baby boy, and there’s no bigger motivation than that right now. I got youth on my side and I feel like I hit harder than Canelo and I have the speed too. All I need is to prove myself to the world and to the fans, and even to myself, that I’m the best. And I feel like I’m ready for that.
“I would love to get a fight with Caleb Plant. I think they’ve just been trying to give Plant the easy route so that they can prep him for a Canelo fight. They’re waiting to cash him out. He’s been getting back-to-back really easy fights. Even after he loses to Canelo, because I don’t think he can beat him, I would still love to get in the ring with him. Me and him still have a lot of unsettled business. I don’t like him at all. He thinks he’s the second coming of Mayweather and nobody is better than him but he hasn’t proved himself at all. He’s had no hard competition. Everybody he’s fought has been way over the hill and have all been beaten. If he really wants to prove himself as the champion, the only way he can prove himself is by fighting me.”
First Benavidez must account for Massachusetts’ capable Ellis (18-1-2, 12 KOs and 1 NC) who is coming off career-best wins over Matt Korobov and Immanuwel Aleem. The Mexican-American says he is plotting a quick KO to tee up bigger fights in the future.
“I’ve been preparing for this fight as if it was a world title fight. Whatever Ellis brings to the table come March 13 I’m going to be prepared for it,” said Benavidez. “If he wants to bring pressure, if he wants to be a boxer and move around the ring, I’ll be ready for it. The way I’m feeling right now, I feel like it’s going to be an early stoppage. I feel great. I feel strong. I’m going in there to get an early stoppage.
“I’m not overlooking Ronald Ellis. I was looking for a big name and I didn’t really get that. But I give him the respect as a boxer and I prepared for him like he’s a world champion. I feel like I’m going to get a quick KO against Ellis.”