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Can David Benavidez be the new face of boxing?
Timing is everything in life, and with many of boxing’s big dogs either losing their mojo or showing clear signs of wear and tear, the sport needs a new headliner.
Terence Crawford might be the consensus ‘pound-for-pound’ best fighter in the game, but he’s not the face of boxing. ‘Bud’ has pretty much mastered the noble art – and his recent stance against the WBC is also pretty commendable – but to be the face of boxing you need to have crossover appeal. Hustle, swag and salesmanship are just as important as perfect ring fundamentals. And while watching Crawford is a purist’s dream, he doesn’t push the envelope outside of the ring in terms of his popularity or commercial and media endeavours. Ditto Oleksandr Usyk.
While Canelo Alvarez was widely considered the face of the sport for years due to his massive popularity and extraordinary ability, it’s fair to say his star is on the wane and he is no longer that guy after being outboxed by Crawford in September. As a consequence of that Vegas defeat, for the first time in seven years, Canelo is no longer in The Ring's top 10 pound-for-pound rankings.
There comes a time in every great fighter’s life when the universe politely taps them on their chiselled shoulder and says, “Hey champ… maybe it’s time to let someone else hold the torch.” For Canelo, that tap is starting to feel more like a dead arm, delivered in class by the school bully when the teacher’s back is turned.
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At his best, Canelo used to slip punches like he had a cheat code activated. He would sit in the pocket and bang with anyone, known for the rhythmic violent percussion of his precise punching. Alas, that version of Canelo has gone forever. He’s getting hit more now, and the punch output has dropped. The stardom is still there - it’s just entered its cozy, slippers-and-Dolce & Gabbana robe phase. And that’s OK. He’s still adored and will still do big PPV numbers, but the days of him being the face of boxing are surely now in the rear-view mirror of one of those Bugatti Chiron’s he likes to drive.
And looking around the fistic landscape at who will replace him, David Benavidez is perfectly positioned to become the torch-holder for the next generation. The ‘face of boxing’ is usually someone young enough to carry the sport for years, and Benavidez fits that profile given he is 28.
His constant pressure, volume punching, and durability make him one of the safest bets for excitement in boxing today. The man is a winner – 30 wins and zero defeats -never in a dull contest, and someone who fights with the energy of a caffeinated beaver. I mean seriously, who doesn’t like an elite pressure fighter with knockout power?
Casual fans love knockouts; hardcore fans love elite skill and cojones. The ‘Mexican Monster’ gives us both. OK Anthony Yarde – who he vanquished on DAZN on November 22 – was not high on anyone’s ‘pound-for-pound’ list – but Benavidez did what he needed to do in Saudi. He was spiteful and he was nasty, and that win showed British fans what American fans have been getting excited about for a while now.
This is no paper champion. His undefeated record isn’t padded - it’s built on dominant victories over dangerous and respected opponents. Caleb Plant can fight. Oleksandr Gvozdyk can fight. David Morrell can fight. The fact that he has been publicly calling out Canelo for a fight for several years – and those in the Canelo business have been looking the other way – is not on Benavidez either.
The man radiates hungry-wolf energy and for us boxing lifers, it’s so refreshing to see a top name who is willing to mix it with anyone. In an era where fighters pick opponents carefully, Benavidez stands out.
It also doesn’t hurt that he is blessed with the right genetics to chase greatness across weight classes. Boxing’s history is defined by legends who conquered divisions.
Before Canelo we had Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The face of boxing before those two was Oscar De La Hoya. The ‘Golden Boy’ had himself replaced Mike Tyson as the man, and Iron Mike came along when Sugar Ray Leonard’s star was fading. Leonard himself filled the void left by Muhammad Ali, who took over from ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson.
And ‘Bandera Roja’ has the tools to join that lineage. Multi-division dominance is a key ingredient in becoming a generational superstar and the ‘Mexican Monster’ has the frame to move up to cruiserweight after taking care of business at 175 (he has already won a WBC title at 168).
Born in the USA to a Mexican father, he is engaging and connects well with both English and Spanish-speaking audiences. There is a realness about him, and due to his heritage, he has the potential to do huge numbers in the lucrative Hispanic and U.S. markets.
As well as the skill, the will, and the genetics, there is a good narrative with Benavidez too.
Young phenom – tick. Suffered setbacks – tick. Redemption in the ring – tick. Relentless rise – tick. You can fight? Great. But when you have the cojones, the look and the charisma to transcend the sport and become a cultural icon, then that’s handy too.
Benavidez has the talent to be a mainstay in the sport for years to come, and the way I see it there’s nobody better placed right now to become boxing's rainmaker.
Watch Pacheco vs. Lele Sadjo with a DAZN subscription
Diego Pacheco versus Kevin Lele Sadjo is exclusively on DAZN this Saturday night, December 13, with Skye Nicolson and Gabe Flores Jr. also on the card. Watch with a subscription, monthly and annual options available.
