By Norm Frauenheim–
PHOENIX – Former junior-welterweight champion Jose Benavidez Jr. is recovering from injuries suffered when he was shot in west Phoenix.
The injuries are not believed to be serious. TMZ reported Thursday morning that Benavidez had been shot in the leg, although it was not clear which leg. He was scheduled to leave a Phoenix-area hospital late Thursday.
There was confusion about when the shooting happened. According to one report, it happened Tuesday when he reportedly encountered an armed, unknown man while walking his dog. According to another report, it happened Thursday morning. No arrests have been made, s spokesman for the Phoenix police said.
Benavidez, 24, was not available for comment late Thursday.
Benavidez (25-0, 16 KOs) is coming off a solid performance in his welterweight debut — a unanimous decision over journeyman Francisco Santana on July 23 on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s victory over Viktor Postol at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.
Benavidez, who held a WBA interim title at 140 pounds, had been expected to fight again at 147 sometime in November.
He was a possibility for the Nov. 5 card featuring Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center. Benavidez called out Vargas in the immediate aftermath of his victory over Santana.
There also had been talk that he would fight in Tucson on a Top Rank card featuring featherweight champion Oscar Valdez Jr. in his first title defense later in November
