Even without his belt David Benavidez, knows he is a big problem at 168
Heading into his last bout, against Roamer Angulo (26-2, 22 KO’s), David “Red Flag” Benavidez (23-0, 20 KO’s) lost his world title to the scales. It was the second time that he had lost the WBC super middleweight title outside the ring. Back in 2018, VADA busted Benavidez with cocaine in his system. While not a performance enhancing issue, the recreational use was just as illegal.
Two years later, after forfeiting his belts to the scale, Red Flag did not blame anyone. Nevertheless, when asked why he did not make weight, the Arizona native gives a plausible enough explanation. According to him, once inside the boxing bubble, he had no access to the tools he typically uses to cut weights. For example, he had no formal gym to train in, steam room or sauna. Minus these items, Benavidez was thrust into disaster.
Luckily, Red Flag is not really pressed about the matter one way or the other. Of course, he is upset and wants his belt back. Yet, at the same time, Benavidez understands that he has a long professional career ahead. Instead of rushing headlong, he feels he can walk down all the big fights in due time.
“I’m 24, I just turned 24 years old, I mean if they don’t get me now they’re making a big mistake if they get me in the future! I’m feeling extremely strong now, I feel like I am coming into my prime years. Not prime years yet, but getting close to it. My man-strength is coming in, I feel like I hit way harder now…”
“I’m not here for two more years, I got at least ten years here! I’m going to be here for a while, I’m not going nowhere. And I am only getting better! I’m getting more experience, fighting better guys. Now I know exactly what to do in the ring. I know how to break a person down. I know how to fight him, I know how to keep them at distance and I know how to stop these people. So, I feel like I am coming into my prime years.”
WHY NOT ME?!
While in a peaceful place, Benavidez finds it funny that Canelo did not try to make a fight with him. It is true that the WBA super and WBC world super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KO) established some kind of communication with the other super middleweight champions.
Each champion, Caleb “Sweethands” Plant (20-0, 12 KO’s) (IBF) and “Superb” Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KO’s) (WBO), turned down opportunities to face Canelo. Both cited insufficient time to prepare as their reason. Ultimately, Callum “Mundo” Smith (27-1, 19 KO’s) accepted the match and was promptly clobbered and stripped of his WBA title.
However, Benavidez finds it curious that Alvarez never once mentioned his name when he had a belt. As he revealed on Fight Hub TV, Benavidez does not think Canelo is ducking, but he definitely knows who he is!
“The thing that I have to say about that is when I had the title, Canelo never mentioned me. There was never even any talks of me fighting with Canelo. But every champion in super middleweight, they got the call, they got something. They got some form of communication with him. I never got nothing at all. So its just there is a reason why I was not mentioned in that, it’s because I am a big threat and everybody knows that! But it is what it is.”
In the end, there is no denying that Canelo Alvarez versus David Benavidez would make for a great prizefight. Regardless of the victor, this has classic actio- fight written all over it.
By: Bakari Simpson
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