David Benavidez isn’t just winning — he’s taking charge

LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez recently told ESPN that he doesn’t just want to be the face of Mexican boxing, But the face of entertainment. and later He put on a demolition derby Against former sparring partner and unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Jurdo” Ramirez on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, he’s well on his way to securing that title.

He didn’t go through much Canelo Alvarez In terms of star power, but every Benavidez defining performance adds to his legend as one of the world’s most exciting athletes, regardless of sport.

Benavidez moved up another weight class and brutally defeated Ramirez to become a three-division champion — the first boxer to win titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight. The fear about his performance was that the fight turned into a side quest for Benavidez, who patiently waited for the light heavyweights. Arthur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol To open their doors for “The Mexican Monster”. And that’s a lot considering Benavidez’s side quest took two titles from Ramirez, who had previously only lost to Bivol – a unanimous decision in 2022. Bivol didn’t beat Ramirez the way Benavidez did.

Although Benvidez was the favorite heading into the fight (-550 per DraftKings Sportsbook), few expected him to run the way he did over Ramirez. It was violent, unrepentant and seemed like an eye injury to the two-division champion. It’s the kind of performance that makes potential Benavidez opponents reconsider their options for saving their careers.

Benavidez never shied away from an opponent and hunted everyone from 168 to 200 pounds to test himself. After his latest victory, Benavidez will return to light heavyweight for the fight with Bivol. He’s called for a fight with Canelo – the white whale he’s been chasing for the past half-decade – but the prospect of sharing a ring with Mexican superstar Benavidez is remote, at best.

“I just want to give the fans what they want to see,” Benavidez said during his post fight ring interview. “I see Canelo (Alvarez) in the building. Hey, let me just ask the fans this. Do you want to see Canelo vs. David Benavidez?” The crowd responded with cheers. “Enough said,” Benvidez Dr.

But at this point, few would complain if Canelo, who still fights at 168 pounds, chooses to move away from Benavidez.

We’ve reached a point where Benavidez has become must-see television with each performance highlighted by viral moments like the raunchy combinations he leveled with Ramirez throughout their cruiserweight title fight. Boxers of his size shouldn’t have such quick hands, yet Benavidez has the hand speed and ability to break down the opposition. Roy Jones Jr. told ESPN before the fight that Benavidez does things with ease that normal fighters can’t. And it’s high praise coming from boxing’s human highlight reel.

“I want to follow in Manny Pacquiao’s footsteps,” Benavidez said in his post-fight press conference. “You know, funny enough, me and Manny Pacquiao have the same birthday, so I think we have the same fire and the same flame. And, you know, I want to give these kinds of exciting fights. Because when I was a kid, that’s what always excited me, you know, these kinds of fights, seeing these, you know, these, these stop outrages.”

Benavidez is not only exciting, but he is also influential. He has dominated the opposition for the past seven years, breaking every opponent’s will one combination at a time. The worst part for anyone holding a title is that if the excuse for not fighting him is to protect your health, that won’t fly with boxing fans. As good as a fight with a sound ring tactician in Bivol would be in boxing, the Russian’s airtight defenses will be tested against Benavidez’s grappling style that has sunk 32 straight opponents. Bivel will return to the ring on May 30 against Michael Eifert in what is being viewed as nothing more than a tuneup fight. After that, there’s no excuse not to Bivol-Benvidez.

“Bevel is number one on my hit list,” Benavidez said. “Bivel, he’s a great competitor, great champion, but I’m also a great champion. I want to test myself every fight.”

And if for some reason that fight doesn’t happen, rest assured that Benavidez will look to former light heavyweight champion Beterbiev for a fight. After all, it’s never about the opponent, it’s about the opportunity to hit anyone available.

As Benvidez told ESPN before the fight, “I like to beat people up.”