Benavidez has opponent but no date
When COVID-19 came blowing into town, the virus and protocols surrounding it quickly derailed all boxing events for a number of months. Thankfully, the boxing world is getting back into motion, as Top Rank has already staged the first major telecast since the whole ordeal began. In similar fashion, WBC super-middleweight champion David “Red Flag” Benavidez (22-0, 19 KO’s) is about halfway ready to return to the ring, as he told Fight Hype.
“I’m doing good, I just been in the gym training waiting for the fight date to come up. So I am very excited to come back, I think the fight is getting closer. I don’t know exactly what day, but I think it might be in August so I am preparing right now; so I am very excited.”
NO TIME TO CHILL
Prior to all the COVID-19 inspired upheaval, Red Flag was on the books to fight Anvi “Mr. Robot” Yildirim (21-2, 12 KO’s) in mid-April. Well that was until Yilirim, who is the #1 ranked WBC super middleweight, injured himself in preparation. Since that announcement, and wanting to waste no time, Team Benavidez went out and contracted a bout with Roamer Angulo (26-1, 22 KO’s). Angulo is ranked #15 by the WBC.
“The thing about Yildirim, I was supposed to fight [him on] April 14 and he had got hurt, so we brought in Roamer Angulo. So the contract was already signed with him, so I feel like that was the person I was supposed to fight. This was the person who stepped up when Yildirim was hurt, so it’s only fair that I give him the opportunity. He is a solid fighter, he is coming off a victory from Anthony Sims, so I feel like it’s going to be a good fight.”
JUST AS GOOD AS THE OTHER
Outside of being happy that he has an opponent, Red Flag feels there are too many similarities between Yildirim and Angulo to drastically change his fight plans. This is precisely why Benavidez is continuing along with the same preparations that began with Yildirim.
“I feel like they both have the same style, they are both pressure fighters. So the game plan will be very similar to if it was Yildirim, but I feel like Roamer Angulo is a little bit stronger. So the game plan continues, I’m looking for a knockout as I do in all my fights. I want to give the fans a crowd-pleasing performance and that’s exactly what I am going to do.”
Switching opponents does not always go this smoothly, so it’s a good thing that everything worked out. Now we just have to see what day these two will mix it up in the squared-circle. Stay tuned to 3kingsboxing.com for all the latest boxing news and updates.
By: Bakari Simpson
