Showtime Boxing: David Benavidez Vs. Ronald Ellis fight announcement, card, odds, start time, live stream

Even though he’s one of the most exciting young boxing fighters and one of the best 168-pounders in the world, David Benavidez finds himself once again, from the outside, staring at the title image of the division.

Despite winning the WBC super middleweight title twice, when he was just 20 years old in 2017, Benavidez (23-0, 20 KOs) was also stripped of his belt, as well as last August when he lost the weight a day earlier to Roamer Alexis Angulo.

But while business has risen dramatically to 168 pounds in the past year, King Canelo Alvarez is trying to reconcile the four-pound titles, while Benavidez hopes to frustrate the party for the third time by winning the Premier Boxing Championships on Saturday. ticket on Showtime (21:00 ET). Benavidez will host Ronald Ellis (18-1-2, 12 KOs) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, Uncasville.

At the age of 24, Benavidez believes his hard days are behind him, including being stripped of his title after a positive cocaine removal test in 2018. Benavidez, the father of a six-month-old son, also returned to a three-month training camp in the isolated environment of Big Bear Lake, California, four years after Rogelio “Porky” Medina made his spectacular knockout. ago.

“The truth is, the thought process right now is food,” Benavid said in a smiling “Morning Kombat” on Monday. “It’s the only thing on my mind.”

Jokes aside, Benavidez said he is on pace to leave long-term weight problems behind by 2020 and still blames the lack of weight before the Angle fight for the lack of training for the weekly fight restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 protocols. access to the hotel’s sauna or road works to help shed the last few pounds.

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Even though Ellis, a 31-year-old grinder from Lynn, Massachusetts, who has benefited from a late career, will serve to eliminate the title that could come close to fighting for another belt, Benavidez is focused on living his attention. until he gained fame for his entire action.

“The process of thinking right now is to get back to where I was and ultimately give the fans a tremendous fight, which is why I’m here,” Benavidez said. “I know a lot of fans are going to have a barbecue because they can’t show up to fight, so my job is to give them a great fight. With or without a belt, I think people love my style and are eager to see them in the ring at their best.”

Benavidez remains a difficult question as to whether or not he can attract major opponents this calendar year.

Alvarez combined for the WBA and WBC titles in December with a win over Callum Smith before keeping busy with mandatory opponent Avni Yildirim in February. The Mexican Superstar has also announced bold plans for the division to face first division champion Billy Joe Saunders in the WBO in May, ahead of a possible return against IBF champion Caleb Plant in September.

“Canelo, I never discredit him or anything. He’s a great fighter and he’s been one of the biggest fighters today,” Benavidez said. “But, as of late, I feel like he doesn’t really say anything to me. Even when I had the title, everyone received offers, but I feel like he’s talking about me and himself.

“To be realistic, fights have to happen. What happens after Billy Joe Saunders is beaten and Caleb Plant is beaten? Who else is there to fight for him? People are more tired of seeing older men fight and I want to see a young lion fight. A description I come in. People want to see me fight with someone like me. All I have to do now is keep winning and that fight has to happen. “

Despite his expectations, Phoenix’s origins are also realistic. He knows that Alvarez could leave the division altogether if he were to meet the goal of unifying the titles, which is to say that Benavidez lost the shot in the Canelo draw when his title was taken away last year.

The good news, from Benavidide’s point of view, is that the division remains deep, and rumors of a former WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo also mentioned rumors that it could rise before it is too late.

And then there’s the Plant. The meat between the two began three years ago when Benavidez’s older brother, Jose, a former welterweight competitor, exchanged warm words inside the Plant inside a training gym. Then came what happened a brief scandal between the camps caught in the tape.

“I don’t like it and I’ve never liked it. I don’t want to have a lot of respect here, but I want to beat my ass. No title or title,” Benavidez said. “Even when Canelo takes over [Plant’s] title away, we still have to get that fight. There’s a lot of bad blood and I’m not going to leave that fight on the table. I definitely need to get that fight.

“I want to shut my mouth and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to break my mouth.”

Meanwhile, Benavidez has worked to improve his game so that he is much more committed to his owner and has a greater responsibility in defense.

“I feel like a great fighter to evolve, you always have to add great things to your game,” Benavidez said. “That’s why I’m such a dangerous fighter and that’s why I have so much confidence in myself. I’ve broken down dangerous fighters who have never stopped. I’ve left people and I’m only 24, I’m not even close to my past.

“I hope to see the best Ronald Ellis he has ever seen. He is older and struggling with a hungry young fighter and a two-time world champion. If he doesn’t train the best he has ever done in his life, he lacks respect for me and will pay.”

This triple showtime header offers a fun play with super welterweight when Terrell returns to the Gausha ring to take on Jamontay Clark. The 33-year-old Gausha has had a tough last season after starting his career with a tremendous 20-0 record. After leaving Erislandy Lara’s decision to WBA and IBO in 154 kilos in 2017, Gausha is 1-1-1 in its last three and lost to Erickson Lubin last September. He gets a tough opponent in Clark, with a 15-1-1 record and seven knockouts. The decision was won by Anthony Lenk in his only fight in 2020.

In the main event, Isaac Cruz Gonzalez returned to action in a light-hearted match with Jose Matias Romero. Cruz, 22, has been in tears to embark on his professional career. He has won four in a row since he started fighting regularly in the United States with Diego Magdaleno’s final knockout. Romero achieves an unbeaten challenge, even though the Argentine has never fought at the state level and his opponent’s level is low.

Fight card, probability

Odds through the William Hill Sportsbook

• David Benavidez -2000 vs. Ronald Ellis +1000, WBC super middleweight title eliminator
• Isaac Cruz -1100 vs. Mattias Romero +700, light weight
• Jamontay Clark -150 vs. Terrell Gausha +125, super welterweights

Forecast

Ellis is the kind of collared opponent who can have a fun fight with Benavidez given his style. That doesn’t mean he’s very likely to win a fight like that.

Benavidez is a favorite betting monster for reasons that make a lot of sense. He’s already big on the division and is able to knock down opponents, Benavidez has clear advantages in speed and strength over what Ellis overcomes and should be able to overcome volume and attack.

Benavidez getting into a fight Ellis may have the best shot to force the offense, as the former champion is also the best boxer. But it can be configured to be finished, anyway.

Choose: Benavidez via TKO8