Deontay Wilder’s trainer and former opponent Malik Scott has praised the fighting style of David Benavidez Jr, comparing the super-middleweight’s intense pressure tactics to those of a former force in the heavyweight division.
‘The Mexican Monster’ has recorded impressive stoppage wins over both Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade and, as a result, has emerged as both a genuine threat for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’ undisputed super-middleweight title as well as a contender for the 2023 Fighter of the Year.
In an interview with Fight Hype, Scott compared Benavidez to a two-time heavyweight champion.
“Benavidez, believe it or not, reminds me of, not in sequence or combination-wise, not speed-wise, but mentality-wise, imposing-wise, hand-control, head-control, he reminds me tonnes of George Foreman.
“He doesn’t step to guys with his lead foot after about two rounds, then he starts literally walking to them, like you would walk to the faucet to get a drink of water. He literally walks to these guys and the stalkers that do this, they are usually slow, they usually lack defence.”
Scott went further in-depth on how impressed he is with Benavidez, discussing his fighting style inside the ring.
“The real nightmare, whilst he is ‘The Monster’ to me, is because he walks to you and he’s imposing, but he’s not slow, that means that his offence is coming at you at a rapid speed and then you’re thinking that you can hit him back, because maybe his feet are out of position or maybe because he’s walking to you.
“But, his head movement is on the swivel so much that not only is he ready to make you miss from a walk, he’s ready to make you pay with a four, five or six-punch combination.
Despite aiming to face Canelo, it seems that Benavidez could face Jermall Charlo in May as Alvarez continues to be linked to a bout with Jaime Munguia, who has his own test in the form of John Ryder this coming January.