Ivan Montiel: David, I know you have sparred Jose Uzcategui in the past. What were your thoughts after that sparring session?

David Benavidez (pictured): That’s why I know this fight is going to be so good. That’s why I am telling everyone that I am excited for it, bro. I know his style for sure because I sparred him many years ago. I think I was like 19 years old [Benavidez is now 24] and I believe that sparring session took place in Big Bear, California.  We both know what we went into, we had a good sparring session.  It was an amazing sparring session, and that’s how I know he’s got power.  That’s why I know that I have to be 100% focused on this fight.  That’s why I have made sure to have done everything in this training camp.  The same way I know his power he knows my power. I know that he’s motivated, I know that he’s coming 100%. We both know each other very well, we both know each other first hand. We both became more mature after that sparring session. That was most definitely before Porky [Benavidez’s 2017 fight against Rogelio “Porky” Medina, wich Benavidez won that May] and that’s why I am excited for this fight because I already know how that sparring session was.  I am telling everyone not to miss out because this will be the fight of the year!

IM: Now, I have the same question for Uzcategui

Jose Uzcategui: It was good. Like I’ve always said David’s a good opponent, I already know who I will be facing.  I think that these are fights that must happen.  We sparred, yes, we both wanted to do so.  Now it’s going to be a fight!

Benavidez and Uzcategui fight each othger on August 28th in Phoenix in a WBC super middleweight elimination bout.