Super middleweight David ‘El Bandera Roja’ Benavidez 24-0 (21) is promising to end his fight against former world title challenger Jose ‘Bolivita’ Uzcategui 31-4 (26) inside the distance when they meet at Phoenix Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on August 28.
“I’m excited, I’m working extremely hard and I can’t wait to give the fans a great fight,” Benavidez said to ESNews.
“I’m going to knock his ss out. Every opponent is the same. I ain’t got nothing against nobody. I’m going in there and I want to get respect from the fans and my people.”
The 24-year-old, who lost the WBC 168-pound title on the scales when he came in heavy for his third title defence against Roamer Alexis Angulo last year, is excited to be fighting in front of his hometown fans.
He says he wants to make a statement against Venezuelan Uzcategui, 30, before looking to bet the green belt back from current owner Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 56-1-2 (38) or possibly moving up to light heavyweight if there are options there.
“I’m just grinding. The fight is getting closer with seven weeks left, and I’m already doing eight and ten rounds,” Benavidez said to Round By Round Boxing.
“I’m excited to have a hometown fight. I haven’t fought in Arizona in five or six years. Jose Uzcategui, he’s a strong fighter.
“I know him and sparred him before. So I know first-hand what he can do, and no one stopped him before.
“I want to be the first one to stop him and I know it’s not going to be easy. He’s a tough opponent and he’s an ex-champion like I’m an ex-champion.
“We’re both at the pinnacle of our careers. If we win, we go for another world title. So he’s going to be coming in very hungry and very prepared.
“And so I’m going to come in there to knock him out. For tough fights like this, you got to do what you got to do, but you’ve got to do it a little bit better.
“So I’m just trying to sharpen the tools that I have. I’m trying to add a little bit more weapons to the arsenal.
“I sparred with a lot of people, throwing punches in bunches, body shots, jabs. So we’ll see if Uzcategui has the style to counter that, then we’ll adjust in there.
“I think it’s going to be like when I fought Porky Medina, but a little bit harder. It’s kind of like the same style and the stakes are higher. He’s never been knocked out. I want to be the first one to knock him out.
“I’m working out really hard, and I feel like this is going to be one of the best fights I’ve ever had. The 175-pound weight class is really nice and I wouldn’t mind going up there and facing all those guys too.
“Whatever opportunity comes my way after the Uzcategui fight. If I get an opportunity at 175, I’ll go up to 175. I have my doors open at 168. I’m an ex-champion.”
Mexican superstar Alvarez, who holds the WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight titles, is in the final stages of negotiations to face IBF counterpart Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant 21-0 (12) in September.
Discussions have recently stalled but if the fight goes ahead as planned, Benavidez can see only one result.
“I think Caleb Plant gets knocked out,” he said. “I recently heard that they’re giving him $10 million and he’s still asking for more.
“So I don’t doubt that fight doesn’t happen, but I think Canelo knocks his ass out too. I don’t like Caleb Plant.”
