Commentator Jim Lampley believes that David Benavidez has the opportunity to become “the face of boxing.” Former HBO Blow-by-Blow host Lampley is high on Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), believing he can one day move up to heavyweight to become a world champion.
Meanwhile, Benavidez fights Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) for the WBC interim light heavyweight title this Saturday night, June 15, on PBC on Prime Video PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
If Benavidez is successful, he could face the winner of Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev is the undisputed 175-lb champion in 2025. Benavidez's chances of becoming the 'Face of Boxing' could be good if he beats Gvozdyk and beats the Bivol-Beterbiev winner
Staying at 175 and moving up to cruiserweight will help Benavidez become the face of boxing because if he drops back down to 168, he won't get the fights he needs to become the #1 star in the sport.
Canelo Alvarez will not fight Benavidez, and there are no big names in the 168-lb division. If he stays at 175 long enough to go unchallenged, that will help his popularity. A move to cruiserweight and then heavyweight will turn Benavidez into a major star if he continues to win.
Jim Lampley: “David, I had an amazing moment. I said to Oleksandr Gvozdyk, 'What happened between you and David when you broke up in Oxnard,' and he said, 'It didn't go well,'” Lampley said on PPV_Com. “Usually, you don't get that honest response.
He said, 'The truth of the matter is, I couldn't handle him. He was very strong, and very powerful. Those were not good times for me, but this will go differently.' Are you surprised that he can give me such an honest answer?”
David Benavidez: “I'm surprised and I appreciate his honesty, but it won't go any better for him. When I saved him, I was 20 or 21 years old. So think about everything I've been through and everything I've learned.
“Not only in terms of boxing, but in terms of strength and form; everything I need to do to get the best out of me. It will go very badly for him. Put on hats for him. He is a great guy. It's going to be a good fight as it goes on, but I'm definitely going to get in there and take him out.”
Lampley: “I asked him, 'How about your jab, the best in the sport?' He said, 'It didn't work for me against him.' So, again, it's pretty amazing.”
Benavidez: “His jab didn't work and neither did his right hand. I took his best weapons. Now that I know what he's doing, it's going to go very badly for him. I don't use that to try, and I'm arrogant and try to ignore him. I'm still working extremely hard, because I know those weapons are there, but it will be a good win for Team Benavidez.”
Lampley: “I just watched a lot of the press conference, and there were a lot of references to, 'The face of boxing.' I think he has a chance to be a boxer, and I think it will be a more dignified mode than what I saw today.”
Benavidez: “Oh yes, of course. Sometimes, it gets to that point where two men don't like each other, but I want to show the fighters that we can be gentlemen in this game. We can behave differently.
“Sometimes you get two people who love each other, and that's what you get sometimes. It doesn't have to happen like that all the time.”
Lampley: “Nothing that happened in this press conference will change your way of fighting.”
Benavidez: “Me and my boyfriend, I study a lot of films and do my homework on this boy. He's a good guy and it's going to be a good fight. I'm looking forward to it.”
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