David Benavidez vs. Jose Uzcategui - Scrapped!

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David Benavidez Tests Positive For COVID-19; Out Of 8/28 Fight Against Jose Uzcategui

David Benavidez’s journey toward becoming the WBC’s mandatory challenger for the super middleweight title he has lost twice has been delayed.

Boxing Scene has learned that Benavidez has tested positive for COVID-19 and has withdrawn from his upcoming fight against Jose Uzcategui. Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) and Uzcategui (31-4, 26 KOs) were supposed to headline a “Showtime Championship Boxing” tripleheader August 28 from Footprint Center, the home venue of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

The bout between Phoenix’s Benavidez and Venezuela’s Uzcategui was scheduled as a 12-round WBC elimination match. The 24-year-old Benavidez already is the WBC’s number one contender for its 168-pound champion, Canelo Alvarez.

Contracting COVID-19 is yet another setback for the unbeaten Benavidez. He hasn’t lost in the ring, but the WBC has stripped him of its super middleweight championship twice.

The WBC first took its super middleweight crown from Benavidez after he tested positive for cocaine in August 2018. He won it back by stopping Anthony Dirrell in the ninth round of their fight in September 2019, but Benavidez lost it again when he came in nearly three pounds overweight for his subsequent bout, a voluntary title defense against Alexis Angulo almost a year ago.

It wasn’t clear at the time this story was posted if Showtime will move forward with this three-bout broadcast August 28 or postpone it because Benavidez was the primary draw in what was billed as a homecoming fight for him and his older brother, Jose Benavidez Jr. Showtime also was supposed to televise Jose Benavidez Jr.’s comeback bout – a 10-round junior middleweight match against Argentina’s Francisco Torres (17-3, 5 KOs).

Jose Benavidez Jr. (27-1, 18 KOs) hasn’t fought since unbeaten WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford stopped him in the 12th round of their title fight in October 2018 at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford’s hometown.

Showtime also is supposed to showcase another fighter from Phoenix, undefeated Carlos Castro, as part of its broadcast August 28. Castro (26-0, 11 KOs) is scheduled to battle Colombia’s Oscar Escandon (26-5, 18 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight fight.

[steve689]

Rumoured it will go on Canelo Plant undercard to protect against Plant injury

If rumours a true thats a pretty boss backup plan.

Couldn't see that tbh. Agreed that the PBC always hold a backup fighter in case of a main event fall out (see Ugas stepping in for Errol), but imagine if Plant got injured and Canelo would have Benavidez stepping in to fight him?! Doubt Canelo would agree to that. It's a big risk and a fight they could hold off and make huge in the future. If there's a backup waiting in the wings it'd likely be Anthony Dirrell or somebody like that.

[Enlightened-One]

...but imagine if Plant got injured and Canelo would have Benavidez stepping in to fight him?! Doubt Canelo would agree to that. It's a big risk and a fight they could hold off and make huge in the future.

I don't understand the Benavidez hype.

For all I know, he might be a good fighter, but he hasn't proven it yet inside the ring against legitimate top-tier opposition.

No one is ducking Benavidez. He keeps making mistakes that cost him his titles (i.e. recreational drugs and failing to make weight).

No doubt he would have engaged in bigger fights otherwise.

Canelo wants to unify 168lbs. Benavidez is neither a champion nor a mandatory challenger. And he's also not considered a commercially big name either.

In terms of everyone else, why face Benavidez, when they can face easier opposition and retain their place in the queue to fight Canelo?

[apollo creed]

Rumoured it will go on Canelo Plant undercard to protect against Plant injury

If rumours a true thats a pretty boss backup plan.

Couldn't see that tbh. Agreed that the PBC always hold a backup fighter in case of a main event fall out (see Ugas stepping in for Errol), but imagine if Plant got injured and Canelo would have Benavidez stepping in to fight him?! Doubt Canelo would agree to that. It's a big risk and a fight they could hold off and make huge in the future. If there's a backup waiting in the wings it'd likely be Anthony Dirrell or somebody like that.

I wonder if Benavidez would've not lost his title on the weight scale, would Canelo still wanted to unify?

Benavidez made a big mistake losing his title so easy. Now all he has is his riskiness, business wise.

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David Benavidez-Jose Uzcategui fight rescheduled for Nov. 13

David Benavidez's fight with Jose Uzcategui has been rescheduled.

The 168-pound bout is set for Nov. 13 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, a PBC on Showtime main event. The fight was originally slated for Aug. 28 before Benavidez tested positive for COVID-19.

Benavidez, ESPN's No. 3 super middleweight, will compete one week after Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant clash to become the undisputed champion at 168 pounds. The 24-year-old is a natural opponent for the winner; like Plant, Benavidez is with PBC. Alvarez signed a one-fight deal with Al Haymon for the Plant pay-per-view fight.

The fight with Uzcategui will be Benavidez's first in his native Phoenix, a location that's proving to be a reliable host for boxing.

Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) was the youngest champion in division history. He was stripped of the title after testing positive for cocaine in 2018. With his blend of speed, power and volume-punching, Benavidez has long been considered the fighter who has the best shot of upending Alvarez at 168 pounds.

Uzcategui (31-4, 26 KOs) also is a former champion. The power-punching Venezuelan fighter lost his title to Plant in January 2019. The 30-year-old was upset by Lionell Thompson two fights later.

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Press Release

Unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavídez and former champion José Uzcátegui previewed their upcoming super middleweight title eliminator during a virtual press conference Monday before they meet live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, November 13 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Footprint Center – home of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features the much-anticipated return of longtime contender José Benavídez, the older brother of David Benavídez, facing Argentina’s Francisco Emanuel Torres in the 10-round super welterweight co-main event. The Benavídez brothers have their sights set on impressing their hometown fans in long-awaited homecoming bouts.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Sampson Boxing and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Monday:

DAVID BENAVÍDEZ

“I’m going to be the same fighter I always am, ripping the body and looking for the knockout. I like a fast-paced, action packed fight. The fans are expecting it, so there’s no reason to change my style now. No one has ever stopped Uzcategui, but that’s the statement I’m trying to make.

“I’m going to go in there and do what I always do. I’m always looking for a spectacular knockout. That’s just the way that I train. I put my heart and soul into camp. No matter what fight might be on the horizon, it doesn’t change the way I prepare for a fight.

“Every time I go to sleep, I’m thinking about war on November 13. I’m gunning for the knockout, and if I have to go through a war to get it, then that’s what’s going to happen.

“Uzcategui is a strong fighter. If I can’t get the stoppage, I want to get a very clear victory. I’ve got a great game plan and I’m prepared to bring a lot of different styles into the ring. I know this isn’t an easy opponent, but that’s the kind of fighter I want to be. I want to take on the toughest challenges.

“We’ve had a lot of great sparring sessions out here in Southern California with Gabe Rosado and Diego Pacheco. I’ve been going up to 14 rounds in sparring sessions, so I’m not even worried about my stamina at all.

“There’s no anxiety about fighting at home. I’m just excited about it. I’ve worked very hard for this. It’s going to be a great night of boxing, and I can’t wait to share the card with my brother in the co-main event. It’s really a dream come true.

“My main objective is to go in there and stop him. I’m the best super middleweight in the world and I just have to show everybody why.

“I know he’s coming to knock me out too, and that’s going to make it a great fight. It’s huge for both of us to get this win and get to the next step toward a title.

“I feel like the winner of this fight deserves the Canelo-Plant winner. We’ve definitely put the work in throughout our careers to earn it. I think Canelo has the experience and power that’s going to help him get the victory on November 6 over Plant.

“I’m doing 13 or 14 rounds of sparring and running six or seven miles a day right now and I’m feeling strong. I basically had two back-to-back camps with the delay, so it was a little bit of a blessing in disguise.”

JOSE UZCÁTEGUI

“I’m very motivated to work hard and train hard every day. If David doesn’t think I’m a top-level fighter, then that’s fine. I’m going to show him in the ring. Whatever misconceptions he has, we are going to figure it out in the ring and I will show the kind of work that I have put in and the type of opponent that I can be.

“What happened with Caleb Plant was just a bad night. We prepared in the wrong way and we weren’t ready like we should have been. But on November 13, the people are going to realize that the Plant fight was just one bad night and we will work extremely hard to become victorious.

“I’m not going to tell you that I’m going to get the knockout or that I’m going to stop him or anything like that,because David is a young, strong, talented fighter who is capable of anything, just like I am. I’m going to provide my own speed, my own talent and my own experience. So in the end, the winners on November 13 are going to be the fans.

“I can guarantee you that we will provide fans with a great fight and that people will realize the type of fighters we are. I promise I will make the most out of this opportunity and give the fans what they deserve.

“I truly believe that the winner of this fight between me and David deserves to fight the winner of Canelo-Plant. No doubt about that. As far as that fight goes, I think Canelo is going to win, and he may even knock Plant out in eight or nine rounds.

“This could be the Fight of the Year, I can tell you that. The fans can expect a war between me and David. I know it’s going to be tough, but it’s going to be a real entertaining fight that the fans will love and we are going to put on a show for them.”

[Thomastearns]

"My main objective is to go in there and stop him. I’m the best super middleweight in the world and I just have to show everybody why."


"Every time I go to sleep, I’m thinking about war on November 13. I’m gunning for the knockout, and if I have to go through a war to get it, then that’s what’s going to happen."



That's the kind of language I like to hear.

That's the kind of language only a supremely confident boxer could use and actually mean it.

Best of luck to DB.

[margaret thatcher]

hopefully he doesnt come in totally overweight or coked out again

[apollo creed]

I'd like to see Benavidez T/KO Jose and then call out Charlo!

[margaret thatcher]

at least mall stays in shape and doesnt get stripped for doing a bunch of drugs

but ya, i would be all up for that fight

[Bandog]

I'd like to see Benavidez T/KO Jose and then call out Charlo!

Mall won't even fight Andrade. No way he'll fight Benavidez.

[KiwiRider]

I'd like to see Benavidez T/KO Jose and then call out Charlo!

Oh that would be awesome.
Matchmaking at it's finest.
I don't have a favourite, it would just be a good fight.

[apollo creed]

at least mall stays in shape and doesnt get stripped for doing a bunch of drugs

but ya, i would be all up for that fight

Benavidez learnt his lessons and he's staying active.

[apollo creed]

I'd like to see Benavidez T/KO Jose and then call out Charlo!

Mall won't even fight Andrade. No way he'll fight Benavidez.

Well, Benavidez is in the same stable as Charlo. Also Charlo is a big dude too. Cutting the weight to make 160 could catch him up.

[apollo creed]

I'd like to see Benavidez T/KO Jose and then call out Charlo!

Oh that would be awesome.
Matchmaking at it's finest.
I don't have a favourite, it would just be a good fight.

I'd root for Benavidez but I have the feeling that the plan is to match Charlo first with Canelo to cash in, then Charlo could fight Benavidez.

[maverick23]

The fight’s off.

Uzcategui has tested positive for a banned substance.

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[apollo creed]

That's sad. Wait a second! Charlo has no fight scheduled!

[Cent0089]

It would be good if Benavidez and Charlo would be next oponents for Canelo under PBC. If he can handle Plant of course

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