Two-time WBC super middleweight titleholder David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) has his sights set on the division’s other big names.
On WBA super champion Callum Smith:
“He looked like he was having a really hard time with a guy who had lost to Rocky Fielding and been knocked out. I thought he was going to look really impressive, but that’s not what happened. I’m obviously a better fighter than him and he’d be a perfect opponent for me. I saw things in his style I could really work with.”
On IBF champion Caleb Plant:
“I don’t feel like he’s true super middle. I think he weighs 170 walking around. Once he gets in with a tough fighter like me, he won’t be able to keep me off of him. All I need is one punch and I don’t think he’d be able to keep me from landing it for 12 rounds. He’s a good boxer, but it’s a fight and I’m the bigger guy naturally and I hit a lot harder. That’s a fight we can make happen in a heartbeat.”
On WBA champion Canelo Alvarez:
“And then you have Canelo, the big dog. That’s my main goal right now. I want to be great in my sport and be the best of my generation. Beating him would take me a long way toward that. That’s what keeps me working hard every day. All I have to do is stay on track and I will make it all happen.”
No complaints
Note that he shows respect for Canelo but shreds the other 2. I’d love to see all these fights get made. An order to fight Canelo he’ll have to beat both these guys or some other big names. Canelo will be looking for the most money per fight right now. It should be GGG at 168. If GGG wants it he’ll have to come up. As for Benavidez I see him moving up before too long to fight the 175 pounders. He’s young right now and looks to be a future great.
Wonder what the other 2 have in common?
Callum Smith should win against Benavides.
If Benavidez keeps himself out of trouble and banned substances, driving all his attention in his boxing career, he might reach greatness. Callum Smith is a good boxer, big and powerful with a poor foot work (kind of clumsy) who recently received a wakeup call about his tendency to rely solely in his punching power. Benavidez is a more dangerous fighter than Ryder that could KO Smith (if he doesn’t correct his flaws)
Plant is not really an attraction and for Canelo, I don’t think a fighter like Benavidez is in his immediate plans. Too dangerous and not much reward.
I hope to see Smith vs. Benavidez in 2020 and the winner against Canelo
What about BJS? Is he not interested in the WBO?
You can’t base a fight by who a fighter beat or lost.
Boxing history is full of cases where boxers lost to fighters who’ve lost to common opponents they’ve beaten.
Jermaine Taylor (who’d beaten Bernard Hopkins twice) lost twice to Kelly Pavlik yet Hopkins beat Pavlik convincingly.
Your analogy make no sense in this case, and in boxing there is no existent equation that if A beat B, and B beat C before, then A should beat C eventually. Facts in boxing are the ones that help to define who is better or more dangerous as an opponent. Ryder was a 25-1 underdog, now, what the odds could be in an eventual encounter between Benavidez vs. Smith based in the facts of the quality of both guys?
Talking a lot of s*** for somebody who hasn’t fought anybody yet. Benavidez arguably lost to Ronald Gavril who isn’t as good as Groves who Smith annihilated. The Ryder fight was a bad night for Smith who overlooked an opponent who has greatly improved in the last couple of years since he fought Fielding. Callum always ups his game when his opponent provides him a fear factor, as he explained in the post fight interview last weekend. I still think benavidez is the second best super-middleweight in the world with the Brit taking first place. Hopefully we will find out soon who is the king of this division, if the suits can make the fights.
Both guys are in the same level at this moment: Truly untested. Callum best win has been against a fighter that was way past his primes, who hung up the gloves right after the fight. Who else of notes is in Callum Smith record?
The same we can say about Benavidez.
Callum could be only hype, nobody knows for sure if he is for real. Overrate a fighter is easy and good for business, the hard part is in the boxer’s hands when he has to face a real threat.
Ryder gave us a hint. Kets hope it was just a bad night for Smith, but what about another one, but just this time against some like Benavidez or Plant?
Be careful what u wish for, might be the last time u stay undefeated.
You should Ryder first and let’s see how you get along with him.
Smith had an off night vs Ryder. I think CS lacked a bit of motivation being that it was the 2nd marking time opponent in a row.. The Groves fight was supposed to springboard him into the big league but it seems he’s stepped back.
I don’t feel the signing of BJS has helped as Hearn seems to talk more about him than Smith. Maybe the Ryder fight will draw the bigger names as Smith looked very beatable.
Also Ryder has been going through a purple patch of late and should himself receive credit.
As for those who cite fighter A beats fighter B because … Smith blew away a then unbeaten Fielding in 1 so if it took Canelo longer it must mean Smith beats Canelo?
Of course it doesn’t work like that. It’ll be interesting to see who is up next for Smith. I think it’ll be Canelo or GGG. BJS also looked poor last time out but the Ring champ status is more appealing. I feel Hearn has to deliver a big one for Smith or he’ll lose him.