David Benavidez went from prospect to many Must Watch lists when he steamrollered Porky Medina in his last outing, on May 20 (TKO8 W).
The boxer, age 20, and sporting a throwback “kills pay the bills” style which demands he seek to discombobulate his foe from round one, second one, will be able to enhance his rep that much more, soon.
Benavidez owns an 18-0 mark, with 17 stops tucked in his trunks. On Sept 9, he will look to make Ronald Gavril No 18…and the vacant WBC super middleweight title is up for grabs.
A win here, especially if performed in similarly devastating fashion, brings the Arizonan Benavidez a step closer to showing the planet what promoter Sampson Lewkowicz believes–this kid could surpass the marvelously talented Sergio Martinez, who he advised.
I checked in with young Benavidez to get an update on him the other day.
So…what does he see in Gavril (18-1 with 14 KOs; from Romania, lives in Vegas)?
“I see a very conventional style from Gavril,” Benavidez told me. “He has a good jab and good speed but he tends to throw the same combination over and over again so I will break him down with my jab and take over from there.”
Has he maybe sparred before with his foe? “No, I haven't ever had any history with Gavril but I have watched a lot of video on him.”
Anthony Dirrell had the Gavril slot but pulled out, because of “injury,” which wasn't specified. Twitter cynics are chattering about that…
“I don't have any thought on Dirrell's injury and pulling out from the fight,” Benavidez continued, “but we are ready to fight anybody so the plan was to stay focused and finish my training camp hard and stay ready for any fighter.”
I hear Benavidez is married to boxing and steers clear of fun-having in between fights…
“Since my last fight I took a week off from the gym then came back and started training and stayed focused in training camp,” he said, in closing.
Rumor is the fight will unfold in Vegas, at the Cosmo, and PBC will televise.
