Promising Phoenix, Arizona boxer Jose Benavidez Jr. (17-0- 13 knockouts) will resume his ring career on the November 16 “Solo Boxeo Tecate” show in Laughlin, Nevada at the Avi Resort & Casino.
His last ring action was on October 13, 2012 against Pavel Miranda who took Benavidez the distance and wobbled the prized prospect in the final stanza. Benavidez’s critics saw the late effective charge by Miranda as evidence that Jose Jr. wasn’t ready for prime time. In reality, the prospect had fought with one hand after re-injuring his right hand early in the bout.
Despite the handicap, Benavidez was awarded a unanimous decision in gaining his 17th victory without a blemish.
According to Jose Benavidez Sr., his son developed bone spurs on the right hand and they were bothersome and painful. An operation was performed in January 2012 to correct and alleviate any problem with the troublesome hand. In the Miranda fight, he didn’t seem to have much confidence in the surgically “repaired” had and relied on the good hand in waging a courageous battle with the upset minded Miranda.
Team Benavidez shut the 21 year old down for almost a year and told him to heal and relax. Now, the hand is fine, according to dad, and the only real news to report is the fact that Jose Jr. will be fighting at 145 lbs instead of his usual 141.
Promoters of the show are still working on finding an opponent.
27 year old Light Heavyweight Andrew “Hurricane ” Hernandez (5-0-1) is scheduled to fight on the card vs. Jose Alvarez of California with a record of 3-2 in a 6 round contest. Hernandez, fighting out of Phoenix, is coming off a Nevada State Athletic Commission enforced suspension for using a banned substance. He has apologized publicly and according to reliable sources, Mr. Hernandez is reunited with trainer Jerry “Schoolboy” Cheatham.
In addition to the Benavidez and Hernandez undercard bouts, undefeated Jose Felix (25-0-1 w/20 knockouts) hopes to enhance his title hopes with a victory over tough Sergio Valenzuela (25-3-2 w/13 knockouts) in a scheduled for 10 round contest. The co-main event is a 10 round contest between bantamweights Rally Lunas (35-6-20 knockouts) and Chris Avalos (22-2-16 knockouts).