José Benavidez Jr.'s next fight could affect course of Phoenix product's boxing career
This time, it won't be three years between fights for José Benavidez Jr. And a win on July 30 in Brooklyn, N.Y, could show that the former major contender for super lightweight and welterweight titles, raised in Phoenix, is a force to be reckoned with in boxing once again.
Benavidez (27-1-1) faces Danny "Swift" Garcia, a seasoned veteran who has held WBC welterweight and super lightweight title belts during what could be a Hall of Fame career. Garcia and Benavidez will fight in the main event on Showtime at 154 pounds, with both trying to get back into the win column after some time without a victory.
Benavidez fought Francisco Emanuel Torres to a draw on November 13 of last year at Footprint Center. The decision was frustrating for Benavidez, who provided most of the action but got hit with a few shots in trying to chase Torres around the ring.
Before that, Benavidez, 30, hadn't been in the ring since October 2018, when he lost his first world title fight at welterweight to Terence Crawford. He hasn't won since June of that year.
In Garcia he has an opponent who doesn't figure to back away from a slugfest, which is more fitting of Benavidez's style.
"Words can't even explain how happy I am for this fight. It's going to be a war," Benavidez said. "He (Garcia) stands there, he bangs. I love to bang. The previous guy I fought just kept running and running and I was focused on trying to take him out, and it didn't happen. I looked bad. I'm not going to lie or make excuses. I tried to do too much and I didn't do enough."
Garcia, 34, hasn't fought since a unanimous decision loss, also at welterweight, to Errol Spence on Dec. 5, 2020.
Garcia's last win was in January 2020. He's fought more higher-caliber opponents than Benavidez, including losses to Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman and wins over Robert Guerrero, Paulie Malignaggi and Lucas Matthysse, to name a few.
"The winner of this fight is going to go back up on the map," Benavidez said. "It's going to be fight of the year, 100 percent."
The fight features two boxers, Benavidez of Mexican descent and Garcia Puerto Rican, trained by their fathers, José Benavidez Sr. and Angel Garcia.
Benavidez Sr. also trains Phoenix native David Benavidez, his younger son, who on May 21 became WBC interim super middleweight champion with his stoppage of David Lemieux at Glendale's Gila River Arena.
"We have to look impressive. I know Danny's ready, him and his father are training super hard. All due respect to them," Benavidez Sr. said. "But at the end of the day, man, we need this fight in order to get back in the rankings and get back in boxing with José Benavidez Jr. We need to impress. We need to give it all, and I guarantee you someone's going to get knocked out."
Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza called Garcia-Benavidez one of the most exciting fights of the summer, and noted the similar big-punching styles and approaches of both boxers.
Benavidez Sr. said it's an honor for his son to fight one of his father's favorite fighters in Garcia, noting his "great left hook."
"We know what we're getting into. Like I tell everybody, we don't run from nobody. We're facing an animal," Benavidez Sr. said. "A (expletive) monster. We're ready for that and we're ready to give the people what they want on July 30."
Garcia (36-3) will be fighting for the ninth time in his career at Barclays Center, home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets. The move up in weight class after 13 years has him feeling stronger with more stamina, he said.
Benavidez said he was offered a fight with Erislandy Lara of Cuba, who eight years ago fought one of the biggest names in the sport for the past decade, Canelo Alvarez, to a split decision. Lara is now 39 but has 29 wins in his pro career.
But Benavidez chose Garcia because he was a bigger name in his mind, and he'd long wanted to face him.
"I've just got to stick to my game plan, stick to my tools and do what I do best, work my jab," Benavidez said. "I matured more. It's not about me anymore. It's about my family, my daughter. They motivate me. And the knockout's going to come on it's own."
Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jose Benavidez Jr. needs a win over veteran Danny Garcia on July 30 in Brooklyn
