By Norm Frauenheim–
Jose Benavidez Jr., the WBA’s interim junior welterweight champion, is back at work, hoping to fight one more time this year.
“November or December,’’ said his father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr. whose unbeaten son resumed training last week at the Benavidez gym in downtown Phoenix.
Top Rank, Benavidez’ promoter, has yet to put together its schedule for the year’s final two months. Any chance that Benavidez might fight Terence Crawford was eliminated this week.
Crawford, the Boxing Writers Association’s reigning Fighter of the Year, will face Dierry Jean on Oct. 24 in Omaha, Crawford’s hometown. Crawford-Dierry will be formally announced on Monday.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum mentioned Benavidez as a Crawford possibility a couple of months ago. Benavidez was also a leading possibility for Crawford in Crawford’s 140-pound debut last April. Instead, Crawford fought Thomas Dulorme, stopping him within six rounds in Arlington, Tex.
It looks as if Crawford is being groomed for a 2016 shot at Manny Pacquiao, if in fact Pacquiao’s resurrection from shoulder surgery happens without any setbacks.
For Benavidez (23-0, 16 KOs), it means he only knows whom he won’t be fighting. Top Rank likes what it has seen recently in the 23-year-old, who scored a 12th -round stoppage of Jorge Paez Jr. in May at Phoenix’s US Airways Center in the only defense of a title he won in a controversial decision over Mauricio Herrera last December.
Plenty of names at both 140 and 147 are in the rumor mill, including Brandon Rios, who is restless and anxious to resume his career after his only fight this year – a victory over Mike Alvarado in January.
Thus far, Herrera has shown no interest in a rematch. But Herrera might run out of options. Antonio Orozco, who beat Emmanuel Taylor on the card that featured Benavidez’ stoppage of Paez, has also been mentioned. However, Orozco has an October 3 date again Humberto Soto at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
“Jose has always said he’ll fight anybody,’’ his father said. “He won’t walk away from any fight.’’
