Arising subsequent month in one other headlining return for Showtime Championship Boxing again in Arizona, former WBC tremendous middleweight champ David Benavidez is prepared for a battle with one other former world champ in David Lemieux. And, Benavidez made clear to the media Tuesday afternoon that he believes he ought to solely be on boxing’s largest levels from right here on out.
“The principle objective for myself is to grow to be unified champion at 168-pounds. It’s not nearly me.” Benavidez stated. “I’ve a whole lot of followers that help me, and I’m doing it for them. They’ve supported me a lot, so I need them to know that I’ve put 110% into coaching camp each time they arrive to a combat.”
“I really feel like I deserve the most important fights. I’ve paid my dues and I’ve been right here for a very long time. However I’ve loads of gasoline within the fitness center solely due to how large this combat is.”
I’m very excited to enter this combat in opposition to Lemieux, as a result of he’s a man I’ve watched for a very long time and I like his model. We each have comparable types as a result of we go for the knockout. That will get me very excited and motivates me rather a lot,” Benavidez continued.
“We’re additionally preventing for the interim title and that makes the stage that a lot larger…If you happen to win the interim title which means the following combat needs to be for the title. I don’t assume it must be any distinction on this case. If Canelo Alvarez desires to combat at mild heavyweight, then he’s going to need to vacate. It’s solely truthful.”
Benavidez, 25-0, 22 KOs had to relinquish the WBC title in August 2020 coming off the Covid 19 shutdown of the sport, when he missed weight badly earlier than his bout with Roamer Angulo. Nonetheless, he acquired the TKO win in that bout and in his subsequent two fights after. That included his win in November, additionally in Phoenix when he stopped Kyrone Davis in seven rounds.
In the meantime, the Montreal Native Lemieux isn’t a stranger to the larger fights himself, having briefly held the IBF title earlier than he misplaced to unified middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin in 2015 after which, to Billy Joe Saunders in a combat for the vacant WBO crown in December of 2017.
Lemieux at 43-4, with 36 KOs, stated Tuesday he has to reap the benefits of what’s doubtless his final title shot if he doesn’t win,
“His model of preventing – he involves combat – there’s no messing round with him. That’s my model too. Two bulls entering into there and will the most effective man win this title. We would like that WBC belt round my waste and I’m planning on having it on combat evening.
I don’t need to lose this chance. I do know Benavídez is a good fighter. I’m going to work very laborious and produce the most effective that David Lemieux can convey. I’m leaving with the WBC title on combat evening.”
Benavidez-Lemieux can be reside on Showtime Saturday, Could 21 from Gila River Enviornment in Glendale, Arizona in a Premier Boxing Champions occasion.
The Showitme Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
