David Benavidez promises to knock out the doubts

By Norm Frauenheim-

He’s a prospect and a champion. It’s hard to be both. Perhaps, impossible. But that’s the dilemma for David Benavidez as he begins a new year after winning a piece of the super-middleweight title.

As boxing’s youngest champion with a major belt, the 21-year-old Benavidez says he hopes to unify the 168-pound title. First, however, the fighter who looked like a prodigy 12 months ago has to prove he’s no longer a prospect.

“I have to make a statement,’’ Benavidez said last week in Los Angeles at a news conference for his rematch with Ronald Gavril on February 17 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay “I have to get the knockout.’’

Has to knock out the doubt.

Questions linger since Benavidez won the WBC’s vacant version of the crown on Sept. 8 with a split decision over 31-year-old Ronald Gavril, who brought journeyman-like credentials into the ring, yet repeatedly tested a tiring Benavidez. Gavril, who scored a 12th-round knockdown, appeared to gain confidence. Gavril is nine-and-half years older. Late in the bout, however, it often looked as if pedestrian Gavril knew what he was doing while Benavidez was still trying to learn what to do.

“He’s a young fighter who still has a lot of things to learn,’’ Gavril said. “Right now he’s the champion, but he will have to be ready. This won’t be an easy fight for him. I’m going in there to hurt him.’’

Maybe, adversity in the later rounds last September were moments when Benavidez began to grow up and beyond the apprenticeship stage. Tougher challenges await him at super-middleweight. There’s Gilberto Ramirez, the WBO champion and perhaps the best in the division. There’s Jesse Hart, who lost a dramatic decision to Ramirez in Tucson a couple weeks after Benavidez’ narrow victory over Gavril

“It’s been my dream since I was a little kid to unify titles and that’s what I’m working towards now,’’ Benavidez said. “I want to be one of the best in the history of the weight class and I’m working very hard to accomplish that.

“I’m the youngest super middleweight world champion in history. I’m going to show Gavril why. I’m extremely motivated to look even better than last time and get the knockout.’’

Benavidez, brother of former WBA junior-welterweight belt-holder Jose Benavidez Jr., already is working like a young man with a point or two to prove. The Phoenix native has been sparring light-heavyweight contender Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Oxnard, Calif. He plans to spar with WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. His father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., has brought an often-controversial Alex Ariza into camp as a conditioning coach. It’s as if David Benavidez wants to be known more for his maturity than his youth. He wore a beard to last week’s news conference.

“The strategy of this fight will be a little bit different,’’ said Benavidez, whose rematch figures to be the best bout on a Showtime-televised card that includes welterweight Danny Garcia against Brandon Rios. “We have some things that we’re planning. But it’s still going to be a war, because I want to be a fan friendly fighter. I’m hoping to steal the show.

“I’m the champion so I feel like I’m in a position to make some great fights in the near future. I want the winner of the World Boxing Super Series 168-pound tournament. I’m honored to be in the same column as the other champions and I can’t wait to get in the ring with them.

“I didn’t overlook Gavril the first time. I knew he was a contender and he came in tough and ready to fight. I know his style now, so I’m going to go to work getting better.’’

It’s the only way to become a grown-up champ.