LAS VEGAS – An experienced opponent for prospect Jose Benavidez, Jr., Saturday night at BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, Ariz., was forced off the FOX-televised card Wednesday because he suffered successive stoppages in his last three bouts.
Benavidez’ trainer and father, Jose Benavidez Sr., was told Wednesday as he was traveling to Parker that Jorge Pimentel would not be able to fight his 19-year-old son. Benavidez’ dad said Top Rank was searching for a new opponent.
An Arizona State Boxing & MMA Commission rule knocked Pimentel, a Mexican journeyman, off the card. Commission executive director Dennis O’Connell said it prohibits a boxer from fighting in Arizona if he has been stopped three straight times within a year.
“It’s clear,’’ O’Connell said.
Pimentel (23-12, 17 KOs) was stopped in eight rounds at Panama City on Nov. 30, in two rounds in Mexico on April 2 and in three rounds in Carson, Calif., on July 9.
The third of the three came at the hands of Mercito Gesta (22-0-1, 12 KOs), who is featured at BlueWater in a 10-round main event against Manuel Perez (16-6-1, 4 KOs) of Denver.
Benavidez (12-0, 11 KOs), a junior-welterweight, had to wait on a late change in opponents for his last victory, a fourth-round stoppage of Corey Alarcon on June 11 in Phoenix, his hometown.
Benavidez has returned to trainer Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif., after training for several months in Phoenix. He has sparred with Gesta, Shane Mosley, Rey Beltran and Paulie Malignaggi.
“The sparring with Gesta brought us back to the top,’’ the senior Benavidez said of recent sparring that became a YouTube hit.