Tag: Kyrone Davis

David Benavidez pivoting to new foe, waiting for big opportunity

David Benavidez is pivoting to new foe Kyrone Davis and waiting for a big opportunity.

David Benavidez isn’t happy with Jose Uzcategui.

The super middleweight contenders were set to fight on Nov. 13 in Phoenix, Benavidez’s hometown. However, Uzcategui was pulled from the show after his “A” sample allegedly tested positive for a synthetic version of EPO, which increases oxygen supply and endurance. The results of his “B” sample have not been revealed.

The fight had been postponed earlier after Benavidez contracted COVID-19.

“I was very disappointed,” said Benavidez, who will now face Kyrone Davis in the main event on Showtime. “The last time I caught COVID. This time this happened. I just feels like Uzcategui is a really dirty fighter. I was caught off guard.

“I don’t know how long he’s been on the stuff. EPO is a big one. It means you don’t gas out and you recover fast, too. It shows how scared he was to go to that extent.”

Benavidez, who tested positive for a key ingredient in cocaine in 2018, went on: “It’s a really good thing that VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) was there. They were doing their job, they caught him. Dirty fighters get caught sooner or later.”

David Benavidez is confident he’ll get a shot at another title. Michael Owens / Getty Images

Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) had been preparing for an aggressive, physically strong fighter in Uzcategui. Now he’s a fighting a slicker technician in Davis (16-2-1, 6 KOs), who gave a strong performance in a draw with former titleholder and Benavidez victim Anthony Dirrell in February.

Benavidez doesn’t believe the late change will impact his performance.

“Kyrone Davis is a boxer but he doesn’t move around that much,” he said. “My style always remains the same. The way I work I’m always consistent with my jab and combinations, going down to the body. … I’ll watch more film to be prepared for Davis.

“Uzcategui is a power puncher, he throws looping, wild shots. Davis throws straight shots. I’ve seen a lot of that before. I can adapt from one style to another quickly.”

Benavidez is excited about fighting in his hometown for the first time since 2015 and sharing the card with older brother Jose Benavidez Jr., who faces Francisco Torres in a junior middleweight bout.

The fight with Davis also could have a significant impact on his career. If he wins, the former two-time WBC 168-pound titleholder – who lost his belts because of the failed drug test and missing weight before his defense against Roamer Angulo last year – could get another shot at a title.

Of course, he would like to face the winner of Saturday’s showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant. If that doesn’t happen immediately, he said he’ll roll with his fate. He’s only 24. The opportunities will come.

“If they don’t want to give me the title shot, then give me a top contender. I’ll take them down too,” he said. “The good thing about me is that I turn 25 in December. I’m still young. I’ve got another 10 years ahead of me, probably more.

“… I made mistakes and had my titles taken away. If I have to start from ground zero and work all the way up again, I will. I feel I’ll make it to the top sooner or later.”

[lawrence-related id=25171,18647,18610]

David Benavidez pivoting to new foe, waiting for big opportunity

David Benavidez is pivoting to new foe Kyrone Davis and waiting for a big opportunity.

David Benavidez isn’t happy with Jose Uzcategui.

The super middleweight contenders were set to fight on Nov. 13 in Phoenix, Benavidez’s hometown. However, Uzcategui was pulled from the show after his “A” sample allegedly tested positive for a synthetic version of EPO, which increases oxygen supply and endurance. The results of his “B” sample have not been revealed.

The fight had been postponed earlier after Benavidez contracted COVID-19.

“I was very disappointed,” said Benavidez, who will now face Kyrone Davis in the main event on Showtime. “The last time I caught COVID. This time this happened. I just feels like Uzcategui is a really dirty fighter. I was caught off guard.

“I don’t know how long he’s been on the stuff. EPO is a big one. It means you don’t gas out and you recover fast, too. It shows how scared he was to go to that extent.”

Benavidez, who tested positive for a key ingredient in cocaine in 2018, went on: “It’s a really good thing that VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) was there. They were doing their job, they caught him. Dirty fighters get caught sooner or later.”

David Benavidez is confident he’ll get a shot at another title. Michael Owens / Getty Images

Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) had been preparing for an aggressive, physically strong fighter in Uzcategui. Now he’s a fighting a slicker technician in Davis (16-2-1, 6 KOs), who gave a strong performance in a draw with former titleholder and Benavidez victim Anthony Dirrell in February.

Benavidez doesn’t believe the late change will impact his performance.

“Kyrone Davis is a boxer but he doesn’t move around that much,” he said. “My style always remains the same. The way I work I’m always consistent with my jab and combinations, going down to the body. … I’ll watch more film to be prepared for Davis.

“Uzcategui is a power puncher, he throws looping, wild shots. Davis throws straight shots. I’ve seen a lot of that before. I can adapt from one style to another quickly.”

Benavidez is excited about fighting in his hometown for the first time since 2015 and sharing the card with older brother Jose Benavidez Jr., who faces Francisco Torres in a junior middleweight bout.

The fight with Davis also could have a significant impact on his career. If he wins, the former two-time WBC 168-pound titleholder – who lost his belts because of the failed drug test and missing weight before his defense against Roamer Angulo last year – could get another shot at a title.

Of course, he would like to face the winner of Saturday’s showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant. If that doesn’t happen immediately, he said he’ll roll with his fate. He’s only 24. The opportunities will come.

“If they don’t want to give me the title shot, then give me a top contender. I’ll take them down too,” he said. “The good thing about me is that I turn 25 in December. I’m still young. I’ve got another 10 years ahead of me, probably more.

“… I made mistakes and had my titles taken away. If I have to start from ground zero and work all the way up again, I will. I feel I’ll make it to the top sooner or later.”

[lawrence-related id=25171,18647,18610]

Anthony Dirrell, Kyrone Davis fight to draw in title eliminator

Anthony Dirrell and Kyrone Davis fought to draw in title eliminator Saturday in Los Angeles.

Anthony Dirrell and Kyrone Davis solved nothing on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

The super middleweight contenders both had their moments in a back-and-forth fight but they had to settle for a split draw in a WBC title eliminator.

One judge scored it 115-113 for Dirrell, another gave it to Davis by the same score and the third had it 114-114. Boxing Junkie had it 115-113 for Dirrell.

Davis (15-2-1, 6 KOs) was busier than Dirrell (33-2-2, 24 KOs) much of the fight but the former two-time168-pound titleholder seemed to land the heavier punches, which evidently accounts for the even scoring.

Many of the rounds were difficult to score.

Davis, 26, moved up in weight for the fight and was taking part in his first high-profile event.

Dirrell, 36, was hoping a victory would lead to one more shot at a major title. He’ll have to figure out how a draw impacts those plans and decide how to move forward.

In a preliminary bout, welterweight prospect Jesus Ramos (15-0, 14 KOs) stopped Jesus Emilio Bojorquez (24-3, 18 KOs) at 1:44 of Round 2 of a scheduled 10-rounder.

Ramos has stopped his last five opponents.

Anthony Dirrell, Kyrone Davis fight to draw in title eliminator

Anthony Dirrell and Kyrone Davis fought to draw in title eliminator Saturday in Los Angeles.

Anthony Dirrell and Kyrone Davis solved nothing on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

The super middleweight contenders both had their moments in a back-and-forth fight but they had to settle for a split draw in a WBC title eliminator.

One judge scored it 115-113 for Dirrell, another gave it to Davis by the same score and the third had it 114-114. Boxing Junkie had it 115-113 for Dirrell.

Davis (15-2-1, 6 KOs) was busier than Dirrell (33-2-2, 24 KOs) much of the fight but the former two-time168-pound titleholder seemed to land the heavier punches, which evidently accounts for the even scoring.

Many of the rounds were difficult to score.

Davis, 26, moved up in weight for the fight and was taking part in his first high-profile event.

Dirrell, 36, was hoping a victory would lead to one more shot at a major title. He’ll have to figure out how a draw impacts those plans and decide how to move forward.

In a preliminary bout, welterweight prospect Jesus Ramos (15-0, 14 KOs) stopped Jesus Emilio Bojorquez (24-3, 18 KOs) at 1:44 of Round 2 of a scheduled 10-rounder.

Ramos has stopped his last five opponents.

Anthony Dirrell determined to prove that he still has it

Anthony Dirrell is determined to prove against Kyrone Davis on Saturday that he remains an elite fighter.

Anthony Dirrell’s primary goal going into his fight with Kyrone Davis on Saturday in Los Angeles isn’t complicated: The former titleholder wants to demonstrate that he remains one of the best super middleweights in the world.

Dirrell, 36, is coming off a ninth-round knockout loss to then-titleholder David Benavidez in a fight that was stopped because of a cut above Dirrell’s right eye in September 2019.

The veteran was competitive but well behind on the cards when the fight was stopped, 79-73, 78-74 and 78-74 after eight rounds. That and his previous performance against Avni Yildirim led many to believe that his best days were behind him.

Dirrell, as confident as ever, couldn’t care less what anyone thinks.

“I don’t listen to anybody,” he said on a Zoom conference call. “I don’t listen to y’all, to be honest. I know what I bring to the table. I know how I train. If I train the right way, nobody can beat me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr–KJPb440&t=675s

No one will question Dirrell’s toughness.

He contracted and overcame non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the mid-2000s to reign twice as a super middleweight titleholder. He outpointed Sakio Bika to win the WBC belt in 2014 and lost it to Badou Jack by a majority decision in his first defense the following year.

In 2019, he regained the same title by winning a 10th-round technical split decision over Yildirim. Dirrell was cut above his left eye as the result of an accidental headbutt, which sent the fight to the scorecards.

Dirrell had said before the Yildirim fight that it might be his last because of his long career and desire to spend more time with his family but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to defend his title against Benavidez, which didn’t turn out well.

Seventeen months later he seems to have a fire beneath him once again. He was asked what he wants to demonstrate against Davis (15-2, 6 KOs), a skillful technician from Delaware who is moving up from 160 pounds.

“That I’m still one of the top contenders, that I never dropped,” he said. “I’m still here, still in contention.”

The fight with Davis is a WBC title eliminator. So is a bout between Benavidez and Ronald Ellis, which is scheduled for March 13. That means the winner of the two fights could face one another for the right to fight titleholder Canelo Alvarez if Alvarez beats Yildirim on Saturday.

However, Dirrell said he wants nothing to do with the Benavidez-Ellis winner at this stage of his career.

“I don’t want it,” he said. “I want a championship, I want to fight for a belt. If it ain’t for a belt, I don’t want to fight for it. I’m not looking past Kyrone. I don’t look past nobody. I train for everybody the damn same.

“He knows what I bring to the table and the world knows what I bring to the table.”

[lawrence-related id=614,18032]

Anthony Dirrell determined to prove that he still has it

Anthony Dirrell is determined to prove against Kyrone Davis on Saturday that he remains an elite fighter.

Anthony Dirrell’s primary goal going into his fight with Kyrone Davis on Saturday in Los Angeles isn’t complicated: The former titleholder wants to demonstrate that he remains one of the best super middleweights in the world.

Dirrell, 36, is coming off a ninth-round knockout loss to then-titleholder David Benavidez in a fight that was stopped because of a cut above Dirrell’s right eye in September 2019.

The veteran was competitive but well behind on the cards when the fight was stopped, 79-73, 78-74 and 78-74 after eight rounds. That and his previous performance against Avni Yildirim led many to believe that his best days were behind him.

Dirrell, as confident as ever, couldn’t care less what anyone thinks.

“I don’t listen to anybody,” he said on a Zoom conference call. “I don’t listen to y’all, to be honest. I know what I bring to the table. I know how I train. If I train the right way, nobody can beat me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr–KJPb440&t=675s

No one will question Dirrell’s toughness.

He contracted and overcame non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the mid-2000s to reign twice as a super middleweight titleholder. He outpointed Sakio Bika to win the WBC belt in 2014 and lost it to Badou Jack by a majority decision in his first defense the following year.

In 2019, he regained the same title by winning a 10th-round technical split decision over Yildirim. Dirrell was cut above his left eye as the result of an accidental headbutt, which sent the fight to the scorecards.

Dirrell had said before the Yildirim fight that it might be his last because of his long career and desire to spend more time with his family but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to defend his title against Benavidez, which didn’t turn out well.

Seventeen months later he seems to have a fire beneath him once again. He was asked what he wants to demonstrate against Davis (15-2, 6 KOs), a skillful technician from Delaware who is moving up from 160 pounds.

“That I’m still one of the top contenders, that I never dropped,” he said. “I’m still here, still in contention.”

The fight with Davis is a WBC title eliminator. So is a bout between Benavidez and Ronald Ellis, which is scheduled for March 13. That means the winner of the two fights could face one another for the right to fight titleholder Canelo Alvarez if Alvarez beats Yildirim on Saturday.

However, Dirrell said he wants nothing to do with the Benavidez-Ellis winner at this stage of his career.

“I don’t want it,” he said. “I want a championship, I want to fight for a belt. If it ain’t for a belt, I don’t want to fight for it. I’m not looking past Kyrone. I don’t look past nobody. I train for everybody the damn same.

“He knows what I bring to the table and the world knows what I bring to the table.”

[lawrence-related id=614,18032]

Fight Week: Canelo Alvarez returns to defend 168-pound titles

Fight Week: Canelo Alvarez returns on Saturday to defend his 168-pound titles.

FIGHT WEEK

Canelo Alvarez makes the first defense of his 168-pound titles against prohibitive underdog Avni Yildirim on Saturday night in Miami

***

DANIELE SCARDINA (18-0, 14 KOs) VS.
CESAR NUNEZ (17-2-1, 9 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9KlsKzTnIU

  • When: Friday, Feb. 26
  • Where: Allianz Cloud, Milan, Italy
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
  • At stake: European title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Maxim Prodan vs. Nicola Cristofori, welterweights; Francesco Grandelli vs. Davide Tassi, featherweights; Tobia Loriga vs. Nicholas Esposito, welterweights
  • Prediction: Scardina KO 9
  • Background: Scardina is a 28-year-old Italian who is based in Miami. The capable boxer-puncher from the town of Rozzano has had success against European-level opposition but has yet to face elite opposition. He has a good knockout record but has gone the distance in his last three fights. He was last in the ring in Dec. 18, when he outpointed Serhiy Radchenko. Nunez, a 35-year-old Spaniard, probably isn’t a significant threat to Scardina. He’s coming off a second-round TKO victory over journeyman Alejandro Mostazo in Spain but failed to win his previous three fights, in which he was 0-2-1. He was stopped by light-punching Vincent Feigenbutz (eighth round) and Edgar Berlanga (first) in those losses.

***

CANELO ALVAREZ (54-1-2, 36 KOs)
VS. AVNI YILDIRIM (21-2, 12 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2k8kucKTk

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 27
  • Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
  • TV/Stream: DAZN and PPV
  • Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
  • At stake: Alvarez’s WBA and WBC titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Alvarez No. 2
  • Odds: Alvarez 21-1 (BetMGM)
  • Also on the card: Julio Cesar Martinez vs. McWilliams Arroyo, flyweights (for Martinez’s WBC title); Zhang Zhilei vs. Jerry Forrest, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Alvarez KO 7
  • Background: Alvarez will be making the first defense of the titles he won by easily outpointing Callum Smith on Dec. 19. The 30-year-old Mexican star agreed to fight Yildirim because the Turk is his mandatory challenger and to keep busy after a year-long layoff before the Smith fight. He could fight four times this year, including a title-unification showdown with Billy Joe Saunders in May and possibly another unification matchup with Caleb Plant in September. Yildirim, a 29-year-old from Turkey, is a solid all-round fighter but not in Alvarez’s class. He has a few notable victories (Aaron Pryor Jr. and Marco Antonio Periban) but was blown out by Chris Eubank Jr. in three rounds and lost a unanimous technical decision to Anthony Dirrell in a fight for the then-vacant WBC 168-pound title in February 2019. That was Yildirim’s most-recent fight, which means he will have been out of the ring for two years when he faces Alvarez. The challenger agreed to step aside temporarily so Alvarez could fight then-champion Smith for the titles.

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***

KAMSHYBEK KUNKABAYEV (2-0, 2 KOs)
VS. STEVEN WARD (13-1, 4 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ_JTdHHr2Q

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 27
  • Where: Tynyshpayev Academy of Transport and Communications, Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Evgeny Smirnov vs. Nurtas Azhbenov, lightweights; Zhanibek Alimkhanuly vs. TBA, middleweights
  • Prediction: Kunkabayev KO 7
  • Background: Kunkabayev is another former amateur star on a fast track in the professional ranks. The 29-year-old two-time silver medalist at the World Championships is taking part in a scheduled 10-rounder in only his third pro fight, albeit in his home country. He is a southpaw. Ward, 30, is probably best known for taking on Game of Thrones star “Mountain,” Thor Bjornsson, in an exhibition last month. However, he’s had some success as a legitimate boxer. He started his career 12-0, capped by a technical decision over Liam Conroy to win a minor light heavyweight title in June 2019 only to be stopped in one round by Ricards Bolotniks at the same weight six months later. He bounced back to outpoint journeyman Jone Volau in his first fight as a full-fledged cruiserweight this past September. Bottom line: Ward will be in with a naturally bigger, better and (if you count his amateur career) more experienced opponent.

***

ANTHONY DIRRELL (33-2-1, 24 KOs)
VS. KYRONE DAVIS (15-2, 6 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPMe-VIFYC4&t=149s

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 27
  • Where: Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, Los Angeles
  • TV/Stream: FOX
  • Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jesus Alejandro Ramos vs. Jesus Emilio Bojorquez, 10 rounds, welterweights
  • Prediction: Dirrell UD
  • Background: Dirrell, a two-time 168-pound titleholder, has been out of the ring since September 2019. That’s when he lost his second belt to David Benavidez by a ninth-round knockout, the result of a deep cut above Dirrell’s right eye that was caused by a punch and ended the fight prematurely. Dirrell was competitive in that bout but faded in the last several rounds. The native of Flint, Mich., had won six consecutive fights before that, including a technical decision over Avni Yildirim in February 2019 to regain a belt. He also was cut in that fight. Dirrell, 36, might be making his last run at another title. Davis, 26, is a capable boxer but is moving up in class. The resident of Wilmington, Del., has beaten two journeymen since he lost a unanimous decision against Patrick Day in March 2018. His last fight was in January of last year, when he stopped Antonio Todd in four rounds.

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***

JOSEPH PARKER (27-2, 21 KOs)
VS. JUNIOR FA (19-0, 10 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F2x47-ebX0

  • When: Saturday, Feb. 27
  • Where: Spark Arena, Auckland
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweight (unlimited)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Alrie Meleisea vs. Lani Daniels, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Parker UD
  • Background: Parker’s mission is to remain in contention for a title shot should one present himself. The 29-year-old former beltholder from New Zealand has won three consecutive fights – all by knockout – since he lost to Anthony Joshua (which cost him his title) and Dillian Whyte back to back in 2018. Parker last fought in February of last year, when he stopped journeyman Shawndell Winters in five rounds. Fa, also from New Zealand, reportedly defeated Parker twice in the amateurs but has yet to reach the elite level as a professional. Of course, this is his opportunity to get there. He’s coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Devin Vargas in November 2019. Fa is 6-foot-5, an inch taller than Parker, and thick. He weighed 267.5 for the Vargas fight. Parker weighed 245.25 against Winters.