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Arizona Boxing News & Notes with Don Smith: David Benavidez Update, Tribute Planned & More By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Sat, 04 Mar 2017 David Benavidez. Boxing Fans, boxing trainer Jose Benavidez Sr. called our desk recently to give ABNN an update on the boxing activities of his super middleweight son David Benavidez 17-0, a rising star in the super middleweight division. At the time of his call I was out of pocket; so later in the day I called him back and we talked for 18 minutes. Two weeks ago, David aka ?El Bandera Rojas? was scheduled to fight on April 17 in New York; but, that date has been changed to April 29 in the Big Apple. David will face either current WBC International Silver Super Middleweight Champion Avni Yildirim (15-0-10 knockouts) or Rogelio ?Porky? Medina (37-7-31 Knockouts). The bout, according to our source, is a title eliminator contest and when more details reach us; we will let our readers know the title sought. In the meantime, 20 year old David is the principal sparring partner for the incomparable Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin (36-0-33 knockouts) as the IBO, WBA, WBC and IBF titlist prepares for Daniel Jacobs (32-1-29 knockouts) on March 18 at Madison Square Garden New York . The battle is an HBO PPV presentation and Jacobs is the current WBA middleweight division king while GGG?s WBA crown is in the super middleweight division. David and the champ are training at Bear Lake in California through March 11 and then the rising prospect will pull up stakes and start working with Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez the following Monday, March 14. Canelo (48-1-1-34 knockouts) has a date with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. ((50-2-1-32 knockouts) on May 6, an HBO PPV event held at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight is sold out, stay tuned for PPV details. David appears to be on his way to stardom; but the young pugilist knows he has many more miles to go before he reaches the level of GGG & Canelo. His father told me they would take one step at a time and enjoy the ride as far as it would take them. Both men know there is no sure bet in boxing. Before we ended our amicable chat, I asked the father about the health of his other boxing son Jose Jr., shot in the knee and hand last year and still recovering from an incident that received national attention. The crime remains unsolved and the 24 year old former WBA super lightweight champion (25-0-16 knockouts) failed to press charges which has led to wide spread speculation that the hit man was delivering a message. ABNN was given the name of a man who reportedly hired someone to shoot the boxer and allegedly he is the same person who hired an arsonist to torch the eldest son?s car in California several months prior to the shooting. Our investigation has concluded that the motivating factor for the two crimes was money and the Benavidez family continues to receive threatening calls on a regular basis. We don?t know the amount of money owed; but, we have been told that the lender has denied any involvement in the two crimes and furthermore, he tells our sources that if he wanted to retrieve his money, he would go through the legal system-we didn?t know Smith & Wesson are attorneys. As for the health of Jose Jr, he is walking and continuing his rehabilitation; however he isn?t talking to the press so we don?t know when and if he will ever resume his boxing career??.we wish him and his family the best. Planned Tributes: 2017 is shaping up to be a good year for 6 time world boxing champion Michael Carbajal. ABNN reported recently that he is to be inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame on August 12 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with the Spinks Brothers, Thomas Hearns and many more men and women who worked in the boxing industry. The former Olympic medalist will also walk on the Red Carpet at the annual Celebrity Fight Night gala in Phoenix, March 18; tickets are available online if you want to take part in an exciting event that contributes to various charities with help from celebrities from the entertainment and sports world. The honors keep coming: the Arizona State Senate at the request of State Senator Catherine Miranda is preparing a ceremony that will include an invite to the Arizona Senate and the issuance of a proclamation extolling the virtues of Carbajal as a boxing champion and Phoenix citizen. Wait there is more?..Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is considering approaching the Phoenix City Council and proposing that the street (9th street) in front of his gym be renamed in his honor. There were plans to honor the Champ at the Iron Boy 37 show on 2/25; but, there wasn?t time to do it properly so the tribute has been moved to the Iron Boy 38 show on April 22 at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. ABNN is proud to offer a toast and a tip of the cap to Michael for his enormous contribution to the sport of boxing. Boxing Commission Report: According to Arizona Boxing Executive Director Juan Rivera, his committee is almost done with their review of Arizona statues governing boxing and they will be submitted for approval and then if approved, implemented. ABNN urged a tweaking of rules that we thought were outdated and a detriment to boxing. I thank Mr. Rivera for looking at our submitted questions. Here is a sample of questions we forwarded to the office of the commission through their Public Information Office. Keep in mind the commission has employed 4 Information officers in the last 15 months. (1) The taping of hands rule doesn?t take into consideration that all hands are not the same size, should the commission correct the situation? (2) As a rule stands, a convicted felon can apply for certain licenses to work in the boxing industry, does this also apply to convicted pedophiles sexual abusers? (3) Is the job of promoting boxing solely up to Event Promoters? (4) The commission has talked for at least three years about instituting a baseline concussion test, why is it taking so long to start the program? Out of state promoters are complaining about the license approval process and the time it takes to get events approved, when will the commission address that problem. (5) In the past, knowing someone connected to the commission helped a friend or relative to become hired, what is the rule on hiring friends and relatives at the commission? (6) There seems to be two sets of clocks when it is time for events to starts and when it actually starts. When will this problem be corrected? Weigh-ins and fights rarely start on time. In total I emailed or verbally transmitted almost 20 questions to the commission. We welcome change! Boxing News: The proposed match between WBO welterweight champ; Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan is being moved to May 19 and away from Australia according to published reports. However, in the same article there is a cautionary statement suggesting nothing is set in stone. The purse is has reached an estimated 38 million but some naysayers say the amount isn?t secured as yet. And you wonder why MMA is becoming more popular than boxing. The simple answer is ?boxing has too much drama??local boxers are complaining about not enough work in Arizona are taking bouts in Mexico??Middleweight Daniel Garcia have moved to California?Our prayers go out to Boxing photographer Rhonda Costa; her father Alan Crowl passed on Sunday 2/26 in Missouri. Rhonda covered the Iron Boy 37 event on Saturday and immediately left Phoenix to be at her father?s bedside. He will be remembered as a military veteran and loving father?.Fuentes boxing in Phoenix is assembling a team of boxers to run in next year?s Rock N Roll Marathon to raise money for charitable cause?? Channel 12 Sports taped an interview with boxing announcer Ralph Velez Jr. at the Iron Boy 37 event and aired the segment n Thursday March 2 during their 4 pm newscast. If you missed it, click on 12news.com and watch the complete segment. ??The next Iron Boy show (Celebrity Theatre) is scheduled for April 22 and Fight Hard Promotions is set to touch gloves with their next show on March 31 at the Legends Event Center in Phoenix???The Iron Boy show falls on the same night Oscar Valdez tangles with Miguel Mamiaga in Carson California at the Stub Hub Center. The contest will air on USA (In Demand) network?..Edward Ceballos has recovered from his sparring outing head butt and ready to resume training at Fuentes Gym?..a reader asked who El Martillo Gonzales could fight if he returns t the ring after a 5 year absence? Our thought would be Roberto Young or if he wanted to pack a venue, Andrew ?The Fighting Pride of Phoenix? Hernandez?.Jesus Serrano (14-4-1) fought in Mexico on March 3; expect results in next column?..the next Iron Boy MMA show is scheduled at the Celebrity Theatre on 3/10 withfirst bout at 6 PM and doors open at 5PM?. sorry we have no more details. Amateur Boxing: On Saturday 3/4, Tucson Southwest is presenting a show; call Pete at 520-271-4322 for details. Golden Gloves Regional on 3/ 4-5, call Mr. Soto at 602-702-7053 for details. Fighters First has a show scheduled on 3/11 at the Scott Libby Elementary School -18701 W. Thomas Road in Buckeye Arizona; show time is 1 pm. West Coast Trials in Albuquerque New Mexico 3/19-25; call Richard Soto at 602-702-7053 for more details. No details on the upcoming Arizona State J. O. Tournament. To volunteer time to help USA Boxing Arizona, call Richard at 602-702-7053??Until Next Time! Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith. |
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