The undefeated 21-year-old world champion fighter is currently the youngest world champions in boxing and has now addressed the failed drugs test.
Earlier this week it had been reported in various places that Benavidez had tested positive for cocaine in a drugs test.
He has now issued the following statement to the WBC and his fans:
“I would like to sincerely apologize to the WBC for my actions I am embarrassed to have this happen and to my all my fans that I lost the respect of I know a lot of people won’t see me the same but I am young and it was a mistake on my behalf.”
In fairness, he is a young man and everyone makes mistakes, young and old.
It also wasn’t a performance enhancing drug that could have injured a fellow fighter.
That said, he will likely have to face some disciplinary action for this as a world champion by the WBC (World Boxing Council) – who’s belt he holds.
Benavidez currently holds an undefeated professional record of 20-0-17KO in what has been a perfect career otherwise to date.
The super-middleweight division is incredibly strong at the moment and in the coming years, watch out for this young man to bounce back stronger and compete with some of the very best at 168lbs.
Anthony Dirrell versus Azizbaek Abdugofurov for the vacant tile? Alternatively, could Gennady Golovkin make a temporary jump to 168lbs to face Dirrell instead, since it has been heavily rumoured recently that he’d consider facing a super-middleweight like James DeGale.
