Benavidez Writes Off Lewkowicz Claims to Promoter Talk on Andrade Fight
Well, it looks like two-time super middleweight champion David “Red Flag” Benavidez (25-0, 22 KO’s) is doing a bit of damage control. Earlier, his manager, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, supplied an interview to YouTube channel ThaBoxingVoice. During said interview, Lewkowicz emphasized that for Benavidez to face WBO middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (31-0, 19 KO’s) they would need well over seven million dollars.
Considering Red Flag has never even received a seven million dollar purse, this declaration caused quite a jolt. Andrade is moving up to the 168-pound division and will be looking for top-rate opponents. Both have been routinely avoided by their most desirable opposition. Therefore, it would make perfect sense for them to duke it out with one another. This is why Lewkowicz’s statement basically saying Red Flag was pricing himself out of the fight was so disheartening.
ANDRADE FIGHT MAKES SENSE FOR EVERYONE!
As he tries to keep his finger on the pulse of the boxing world, Benavidez has heard the backlash being thrown his way. So, in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, the two-time champion explained that folks need to relax and just let the talks continue to develop behind the scenes.
“I see a lot of people saying that I priced myself out, this and that, but you know this is negotiations bro! We are not even close to making the fight happen. I have the fight signed with David Lemieux. He has a fight signed with, who is he fighting? So he is fighting WBO something like that, it’s just talks right now. So I see a lot of people getting on my ass commenting, ‘oh you priced yourself out!’ This is just talks right now, nothing is even cemented.
I think it’s a very lucrative fight for both sides, PBC and DAZN. We both need that step up. Nobody wants to fight Andrade at 160, who’s coming up to 168 and I am having a hard time finding people who want to fight me. We both want the big names and we both hold weight in both of our promotional companies. We got big names too! So I think that is the best fight that we can make, just fight each other and the winner goes to the next level.”
LET THAT PROMOTER PROMOTE!
In regards to his promoter’s comments, Benavidez chalked it up to a seasoned salesman plying his savvy trade.
“Like I said bro, I don’t know. I’m a fighter, you know those dudes are promoters. Sampson Lewkowicz, Al Haymon, Luis Cubas, they take care of all that. And I am pretty sure we’re going to come to an agreement, something that is going to make sense for everybody. I feel like we both deserve that. Andrade has been there for a long time, ex-champion.
I’ve been here a long time, ex-champion, we’re going to come to an agreement, but first things first. I got to take care of David Lemieux, it’s not an easy fight. He has to take care of his first fight at 168. So after we both get these fights taken care of, then we can move on to the next and then we can start negotiating.”
Understandably, boxing fans will take to what Benavidez is saying very well versus the script that Lewkowicz was reading from! Now, let’s just hope they do take care of business because Benavidez versus Andrade is one great fight!
“He brings a lot to the table! He’s a fucking great champion! He’s been champion in two weight classes. How is he not going to bring anything to the table? He’s been here for longer than I have, so how is he not going to bring anything to the table? I’m not that type of fighter to be like ‘oh yeah, his name is not big enough.’ Man fuck that! We’re both boxers, we’re both at 168, we both been world champions. Let’s make the fight happen. It’s not that hard.”
Reading Time: 4 minutes
By: Bakari Simpson
