By Norm Frauenheim–
David Benavidez, unbeaten and lately unlucky, waits more than wins these days.
He waited to recover from COVID. He waited to regain a shot at a super-middleweight title. He’s waited on Canelo Alvarez. And waited to go home.
The wait continued Thursday. The good news: It didn’t last long.
The day broke with a report that Benavidez’ homecoming foe, Jose Uzcategui, had been pulled from his Nov. 13 date in Phoenix because of a positive test for a banned performance enhancer.
About six hours later, the homecoming — Benavidez’ first fight in Phoenix in more than six years – was still on with an announcement from PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) and Showtime that a late stand-in had been found.
His name: Kyrone Davis (16-2-1, 6 KOs), a Wilmington, Delaware fighter who is 3-1-1 over his last five. The draw on Feb. 27 in Los Angeles was with Anthony Dirrell, whom Benavidez stopped in a ninth-round blowout in September 2019.
The potential bad news: The quick switch in opponents 17 days before opening bell means Benavidez won’t be fighting a World Boxing Council (WBC) title eliminator. The winner would have gained a mandatory chance at the acronym’s version of the belt, which Canelo will defend Nov. 6 against Caleb Plant in Las Vegas.
It was a scheduled 12-rounder against Uzcategui, a former 168-pound belt holder in a bout that had already been postponed. It was supposed to happen August 28 but was rescheduled after Benavidez caught COVID.
Against Davis, it’s a scheduled 10-rounder at Footprint Center at the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix.
Will it matter? Maybe not. Benavidez was expected to beat Uzcategui. He was a 9-to-1 favorite. He is expected to beat Davis by odds so one-sided that they might never be posted.
Uzcategui or Davis, Benavidez is the overwhelming choice against either, a lot like Canelo versus Plant at T-Mobile Arena. Canelo is an 8-to-1 favorite.
With an eliminator victory for the so-called mandatory, Benavidez might have gained some trash-talk leverage in the media about securing a deal for fight with Canelo fight.
But Canelo has the final say-so. It’s a prerogative that comes with his documented status as boxing’s biggest draw. If he takes the final piece in the 168-pound puzzle – the International Boxing Federation’s belt – from Plant, he might choose to move up the scale to light heavyweight.
However, he didn’t shut the door on the possibility of a fight with Benavidez. Before news of Uzcategui’s positive test, Canelo was asked what – who – was next during a Zoom session Wednesday for his bout with Plant. Would he fight the winner of Benavidez-Uzcatequi winner?
“Right now, I am 100-percent focused on this fight,’’ Canelo said. “Then we will see. If it’s right, no problem.’’
The calendar suggests an answer. Canelo, a Mexican, is fighting one Saturday and Benavidez, a Mexican-American, is fighting the next Saturday, both on Showtime.
That might be mere coincidence. But it doesn’t look like it. Canelo-Benavidez looks to be a perfect fit for May 7, two days after the Cinco de Mayo celebration next year.
Benavidez’ best argument for a fight with Canelo is in his performance. To wit: Do to Davis what he had promised to do Uzcategui.
“I’m going to go in there and do what I always do,’’ Benavidez said during a zoom session with reporters last week. “I’m always looking for a spectacular knockout. That’s just the way 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.
“…I’m the best super-middleweight in the, and I just have to show everybody why.’’
That’s one way to end all that waiting.