WBC and ‘Interim’ WBA light heavyweight champion David Benavidez has been seeking some action since his last appearance in the ring against David Morrell earlier this year. The 28-year-old dominantly defeated the Cuban boxer to jump into conversations for a fight against the former undisputed light heavyweight champion.
Last year, Artur Beterbiev secured the undisputed status, but in the rematch, Dmitry Bivol avenged his loss to crown himself the new king of the division. Initially, Benavidez was expected to fight against Bivol, but a rubber match between Beterbiev and Bivol took more precedence, sidelining ‘The Mexican Monster’ to find his own challenge.
Despite that, some rumors have suggested that Benavidez was close to sealing a deal with Bivol for an undisputed matchup. However, it turned out to be just that—a rumor. In reality, they were never close to making a deal, as Bivol opted to give Beterbiev the same opportunity he received after suffering his first career loss.
Bivol relinquished his WBC belt because of the mandatory obligation the sanctioning body had enforced on him by ordering him to defend the title against Benavidez. ‘The Mexican Monster’ didn’t want to win the belt in such a way, but he was immediately elevated as the regular champion. Now, with the belt, a new opponent seems to be on the horizon for Benavidez.
June 27, 2022, New York, NY, New York, NY, United States: NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 27: Eddie Hearn addresses the media at the NYC press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz ahead of the September 17th bout at T-Mobile arena between Saul Canelo Alvarez and Gennady GGG Golovkin on June 27, 2022, in New York, NY, United States. New York, NY United States – ZUMAp175 20220627_zsa_p175_009 Copyright: xMattxDaviesx
Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has thrown in a fighter’s name from his own stable—WBO ‘Interim’ titleholder Callum Smith. “That light heavyweight division is actually quite thin at the top in terms of big names,” Hearn told Boxing News. “We’re discussing that fight. No firm offers [were] made, but tell me another fight that Benavidez can make. I think David Benavidez against Callum Smith is a hell [of a] fight.”
And now, Benavidez’s team seems to have confirmed a potential date for the bout as well.
When is David Benavidez vs. Callum Smith?
Speaking to Marcos Villegas of Fight Hub TV recently, Jose Benavidez Sr. claimed that his son wasn’t disappointed for failing to land a fight against Canelo Alvarez or Dmitry Bivol. “He’s [working on] his own legacy, he’s doing what he’s supposed to do,” Benavidez Sr. said during the interview.
Benavidez Jr.’s father thinks that everything that is happening is benefiting his son, noting, “He’s really happy with the performances that he’s done, the fighters that he has fought and look at where he’s at now…” He added that Benavidez Jr. will “corner everybody,” and they will have to fight him or relinquish their belts.
When asked about a potential date he had in mind for the potential Callum Smith fight, Benavidez claimed they are targeting August, September, or somewhere around that time. “We’re talking maybe in August, somewhere around there, September [maybe]… He’s been busy a little bit, but those are the dates that we’re probably thinking. It could be sooner…,” he said.
That said, David Benavidez might not be able to land the sort of fights he has been hoping for, but Callum Smith is a great opponent with a title. A win here can only take Benavidez one step closer to the eventual undisputed fight. What are your thoughts on the potential fight date?
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