Former WBC Super Middleweight champion David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) has his sights set on a bout against IBF titleholder Caleb Plant (21-0, 12 KOs), and he’s willing to make sacrifices to ensure that the fight comes to fruition.
Benavidez, who’s only ever lost his title due to issues encountered outside of the ring, is currently scheduled to meet former champion Jose Uzcategui on Showtime on August 8, but the 24-year-old has been open about his desire to pursue fights against the top names at 168 pounds.
As we’ve seen many times in boxing, however, the biggest fights are often difficult to put together due to promotional or financial issues. But Benavidez claims that he’d be willing to do whatever it takes to get his hands on Plant.
“I’m getting paid really good right now, so I know if I fight Caleb Plant, it’s gonna be a good payday,” said Benavidez on a recent episode of the Round By Round Boxing Podcast. “But if they want me to take less and that’s the route we’ve got to go, then that’s the route we’ve got to go. Sometimes you’ve got to make these sacrifices to get what you want at the end of the day. If they would guarantee me a fight with him, but I’ve got to take a little bit less money, I would do it 100 percent.”
Obviously, giving up money isn’t on any fighter’s list of top priorities, but Benavidez seems to be looking at the bigger picture. In other words, making a sacrifice to land a fight against Plant, a fight in which he’s confident he’d win, could end up taking his career to the next level.
“You have to have confidence in yourself,” said Benavidez. “Sometimes you’ve gotta take a hit, but after that, I think just the fight alone would have so many views, and it would be great for my career. My stock would just skyrocket from there because it’s a fight that everybody’s been watching. It’s two great fighters that go at each other, and obviously, I know I can win, so if that’s the route I’ve gotta go, then that’s the route I’ve gotta go. I have no problem with it.”
A fight between Benavidez and Plant, who also fights under the PBC banner, would undoubtedly be intriguing, although it’s unclear how soon it could take place given that the 28-year-old Plant could be in line to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez before the year’s end.
Regardless of when it comes to fruition, however, there’s no denying that Benavidez is after big opportunities, and at least for now, it appears as if he’s willing to do his part in making those fights happen.
ROUND BY ROUND BOXING PODCAST EPISODE 8 – DAVID BENAVIDEZ
