Ivan Montiel: Talk to us about your sons, David and Jose!

 

Jose Benavidez Sr: Everything is good. Camp was good, we are ready! Sparring has finished, actually it ended a day earlier. [Former WBC super middleweight champion] David [Benavidez] is getting stronger and his sparring partners didn’t last until the end.  I am happy at the same time with the sparring partners which we had because we got more rounds than expected. David loves to spar but finishing a day earlier gives him time to rest a bit.

 

IM: What about [your otther boxing son,] Jose [who is moving up to junior middleweight]. How did training camp go for him, and how’s his leg?

 

JB: Everything is going good for Jose, he’s feeling faster.  Jose is on weight, he feels motivated. Both David and Jose are looking forward to giving boxing fans a good show. 

 

IM: Talk to us about their opponents, David's first.

 

JB: Kyrone Davis is a tough opponent who has good amateur experience. He also got a draw versus Anthony Dirrell.  Davis is a dangerous opponent with speed and just in case you have not seen that Davis versus Dirrell fight, I suggest you check it out.  Davis has good legs he’s a very good boxer.  It’s going to be a good fight!

 

IM: Any predictions?

 

JB: We have to look impressive, we can’t just win this fight.  David has to show the difference, look spectacular in order to get an opportunity to face [undisputed four-belt world super middleweight champion] Canelo Alvarez.  Lots of boxing fans are wanting to see Canelo versus Benavidez. It’s a possible fight especially since Canelo has no other rivals but Benavidez!  The same thing applies to us, we have to show which level we are at!  David lost his title [outside the ring] and that same title [WBC super middleweight]  that Canelo has now. My son deserves that Canelo fight.

 

IM: In other words, the next fight should be Alvarez versus Benavidez but of course, David must win his upcoming fight.

 

JB: It doesn’t have to happen but at the same time it’s a fight that many boxing fans are demanding.  Canelo versus Benavidez would be an emotional fight.  Both Canelo and David have lots of knockouts!  David doesn’t run, Canelo also doesn’t run so it’s two trains colliding with one another.  That style of fighting is what makes for a great fight!

 

IM: David also knows how to box smart! 

 

JB: Yes but David hasn’t been able to show his boxing talent much.  The way to beat Canelo is not by boxing nor running, it’s by going forward.  David has to push back Canelo and press him, not box him.  We must take risks by fighting forward in order to get an opportunity.

 

IM: Are you forgetting that Floyd Mayweather beat Canelo by boxing him?

 

JB: Yes, however I would never ever compare my son to Floyd Mayweather Jr.  Mayweather is an intelligent boxer who moves very well, David loves to fight going forward.  Let’s not forget Canelo was 24 years when he lost to Mayweather. That’s the same age David is right now.  If Canelo fights Mayweather right now, Floyd would end up in the hospital

 

IM: What do think of David's defensive skills?

 

JB: Like I said before, we are training hard. We are focused. We worked a lot on defense, jab and body work.  David is getting better with every fight.  I am not saying that Canelo is easy work, my respect to Canelo, he is a dangerous guy.  Canelo is the king at 168 lbs!  We want that Canelo fight to see where we stand, we want to take that risk! We want to see if we can make that big upset!  Those who don’t take risks don’t win! 

 

IM: I must ask you what exactly happened with Jose Uzcategui [the riginal opponent who tested positive for a banned substance]?

 

JB: I respect Uzcategui and his team, I know his trainer.  We were ready to fight him, he was going to bring it.  Uzgategui was going to bring power the desire to win.  Imagine if Uzgategui beat David, he would have possibly been next for Canelo.  I don’t pay much attention to Uzgategui testing positive.  We moved onto Davis and he’s what on our mind.  This type of stuff happens in boxing.  Davis will go to war with David. We just need to hurt himround by round. 

 

IM: Is David going to look to KO Davis?

 

JB: David has to knockout Davis!  My son has to look impressive!  We won’t look for the KO, we will break Davis down by using that jab, fight forward and work downstairs!  We will adjust little by little and if that KO comes we will go for it.

 

IM: I want to ask you about Jose "El Rayo" Valenzuela, a 10-0 lightweight. When is his next fight?

 

JB: Rayo Valenzuela will be fighting December 18th on a pay-per-view event featuring YouTube fighters. 

 

IM: Rayo Valenzuela is slowly but surely becoming a fan favorite!

 

JB: He is focused and training hard. It looks like soon he will be stepping up incompetition.  You know that we don’t look for competition we simply fight whatever competition is thrown at us.  We know that stiffer competition is coming, we are ready for it, we are motivated. 

 

IM: What about Jose? What if he wins his upcoming fight vs. Francisco Torres (17-3) as expected? What can we expect from him in 2022?

 

JB: Jose will be fighting the co-feature, he’s fighting at 154 lbs, he’s focused and he’s on weight.  Let’s wait and see how he performs at 154 lbs. 

 

IM: Well Jose I appreciate your time and I'm hoping to see Canelo versus Benavidez in the near future!  Many boxing fans believe that if there’s one guy that could beat Canelo it’s David Benavidez!

 

JB: I think so too!  I believe that we have a good chance at beating Canelo.  We have good experience and are willing to risk it!  Boxing is all about taking risks!  My son is strong and ready for Canelo but if that fight doesn’t happen, we will continue to work hard until David Benavidez rules the 168 division! 

 

IM: If David Benavidez continues to knock everyone out he sure deserves a fight versus Canelo!

 

JB: Of course!  We must continue to work hard in order to get that Canelo fight!