At the Footprint Centre in Phoenix, Arizona, David Benavidez stayed in the frame for a potential meeting with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, as he stopped Kyrone Davis in seven rounds of their super middleweight contest.
Benavidez has twice served as WBC champion, and has twice been stripped due to cocaine use and missed weight issues. Davis held Anthony Dirrell to a twelve round draw in February, but was vastly overmatched in this one.
Benavidez stalked his man and looked for openings in the first few frames, and then opened up in round four as the pair went toe to toe. Once Davis allowed Benavidez time and space, the writing was on the wall, and the home favourite unleashed a volley of power punches that left Davis’ corner considering pulling their man out after five rounds, and it looked as though they had done just that at the end of the sixth, before changing their minds and sending Davis back out. The punishment went on until the seventh, and with 48 seconds gone, and Davis facing some hammer blows head on, his corner wisely threw the towel in.
.@benavidez300 sneaks in a punch in round 5 #BenavidezDavis pic.twitter.com/6jBGC9GR7w
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 14, 2021
"There's nobody else for @Canelo to fight." – @Benavidez300 #BenavidezDavis pic.twitter.com/gEELVkP8xN
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 14, 2021
Jose Benavidez Jr wasn’t able to make it a Benavidez double, as he was held to a draw over ten in a tight encounter with Francisco Emanuel Torres. Benavidez was coming off a loss to Terence Crawford. Two judges had the contest a 95-95 draw, rendering a verdict of 96-94 for Benavidez redundant.
Keenan Carbajal scored a fourth round stoppage against Josean Figueroa Bonilla, and Elijah Lorenzo Garcia knocked out Todd Manuel in five.
Jesus Abel Ibarra halted Hector Ruben Ambriz Suarez in two rounds, while Farid Ngoga took a four round points win against Isaac Freeman.
