David Benavidez believes that Jermall Charlo is a weak-hearted chicken!
When David “Red Flag” Benavidez (24-0, 21 KO’s) next plies his brutal trade, he will do so against the challenge of Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis (16-2-1, 6 KO’s). While Davis does not subscribe to the line of thinking, it’s widely believed that Benavidez will sail past him like a warm July breeze through a screen window. Only time will falsify or verify this notable expectation. Provided that Red Flag trounces Davis however, the next logical question is: who would Benavidez dance with next?
It’s no secret that Red Flag is the leading candidate in a gaggle of super middleweight and middleweight fighters aching for the chance to box Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The Mexican superstar is fresh off his latest victory over Caleb Plant. With the spoils of war, Canelo usurped Plant’s IBF 168-pound title, the last he needed, to become the undisputed super middleweight champion. Benavidez would jump, or hurt folks, to secure that bout for himself.
BE FOR REAL!!
In the radically unpredictable world of boxing, you never know what will happen next. So, while it may appear that the Arizonan is next in line for the redhead, you just never know. In the event that the fight turns to vapor in his face, Red Flag does have other options. One such opponent, is the popular WBC middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (32-0, 22 KO’s). Actually, these two already share a cantankerous backstory that stretches back for well over a year.
On the surface, this comes off as a perfect setup for either guy. Both possess big names, have fan-friendly styles and they represent a big money fight for the other. If Charlo defeated Benavidez, he’d make one sensational entrance into the 168-pound division. Also with the win, especially being a WBC middleweight champion, Hit Man would near certainly become Canelo’s WBC mandatory challenger. A victory for Red Flag would serve to cement his current #1 (WBC) standing.
Sadly, after talking a good game, Charlo has displayed zero legitimate desire to test his might with Benavidez. Even so, he’s gone so far as to say that he would break Red Flag’s neck. The fistic-minded elder twin tried to lawyer his way out of the situation by saying the two-time WBC super middleweight brought nothing to the table. Yet, he then turned around and quizzically fought Juan Macias Montiel. At the time of their clash, Montiel had about as much buzz as a ten pound bag of dead bees. Even worse, Charlo struggled mightily in earning his unanimous decision over the awkward and mysterious fighter.
BEEN HERE BEFORE!
This contradictory behavior is precisely why Benavidez began believing that Charlo was really not serious about a duel. Clearly, he has not really changed his opinion as he told to Brian Custer on the Last Stand Podcast.
“Well, firsts things first is because I am the number one contender at super middleweight. I’ve been at super middleweight my whole career. Charlo has never had a fight at super middleweight, so he is just trying to skip the line and go straight to the paycheck. But that’s why I’ve said time and time again I don’t mind fighting Charlo. I feel like that would be a great situation to have an interim belt. You know what I mean, it makes sense on both sides but I feel like Charlo, he’s not sure about himself.
If I was such an easy fighter, like he said I was, and he said he was going to knock me out and break my neck, like how he said he was, he would have been took me out! I’m a good [name on a] resume, if I get beat. If anybody beats me, I’m a good [name] on anybody’s resume.”
When petitioned directly on Jermall Charlo, David Benavidez was diplomatically honest.
“[He’s a] chicken. I could say something else but I want to be professional!”
By: Bakari Simpson
