David Benavidez delivers a one-sided to Ronald Gavril in their rematch. pic.twitter.com/1xVyz9GR3x
WBC Super Middleweight champion David Benavidez (20-0, 17 KOs) hit Ronald Gavril (18-3, 14 KOs) with every punch in his arsenal as he dominated Gavril in their rematch.
The talented 21-year-old Mexican successfully defended his title with a unanimous-decision win over Gavril at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Benavidez could not knock out Gavril like he promised at the press conference leading up to the fight, but the young champion landed body shots, uppercuts and hard right hands at will.
“When I saw the opening, I took it,” said Benavidez. “But I couldn’t knock him out. He’s a tough son-of-a-gun.”
Benavidez controlled the first three rounds, keeping the distance with the jab and right hand. In the fourth round, Benavidez rocked Gavril with a massive counter uppercut.
Gavril continued to come forward and showed tremendous heart but Benavidez continued to find the openings and land four-punch combinations.
“I knew he was gonna come in aggressive,” said Benavidez. “He’s a one-trick pony. He doesn’t know how to do anything else but pressure so I used that to my advantage. I used my jab and boxed him all day.”
Benavidez stopped throwing the jab as much in the seventh round, which let Gavril land some shots. Gavril landed good right hands but they had little effect on Benavidez as he looked poised beyond his years.
Even when Gavril landed, it doesn’t faze Benavidez as he lands body shots and right hands with blistering combos.
Two judges scored the bout 120-108 while the third judge scored it 119-109.
After the fight, Benavidez showed the cameras a swollen middle knuckle on his right hand. He said both hands hurt but he couldn’t stop using both hands.
“I have that warrior mentality, said Benavidez. “I’m going to keep pushing and that’s what I did.”
When asked by Jim Gray what’s next, Benavidez said he wants to be the best in the division.
“Whoever they put on front of me, that’s who I’m going to do,” said Benavidez.
All photos by Stephanie Trapp/Showtime
