By Norm Frauenheim-
GLENDALE, Ariz. – It’s the only place he’s ever lost.
But the scale is no longer David Benavidez’ biggest challenge.
Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs), who lost the World Boxing Council’s super-middleweight title when he failed to make the weight in 2020, came in under the 168-pound mandatory Friday for an interim belt in a Showtime-televised bout Saturday against David Lemieux (43-4, 36 KOs) at Gila River Arena.
Under a hot desert sun at high noon, Benavidez stepped lightly on a scale located on a stage set on a pavilion outside of the ice-hockey arena’s front doors.
No problem. Jenny Craig would have been proud. Benavidez was more than a pound lighter than the maximum. He was at 166.4 pounds. Lemieux, a former 160-pound champion, was at 166.2.
The 25-year-old Benavidez couldn’t recall when he’s ever been so light. He grew up chubby. He likes to joke that he was the fat kid in the background of photos that featured his older brother, Jose Benavidez Jr., a former national amateur champion and an ex-junior-welterweight belt-holder.
When asked whether his second son has ever been so light, father and trainer Jose Benavidez Sr. shouted:
“Never.’’
The scale had loomed as problematic since David Benavidez was stripped of the title after he was 2.8 pounds heavier than the limit in August 2020. He went on to score a 10th-round stoppage of Roamer Alexis Angulo at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. But he left the ring without the belt he has been trying to regain ever since.
Making the weight Friday is a key step in that direction. It keeps him in line for a mandatory shot at a title now in Canelo Alvarez’ possession. He has to beat Lemieux to stay there.
“David Benavidez is very solid, a big challenge,’’ said Lemieux, a Montreal fighter and the designated challenger in the main event on the Showtime telecast (7 pm PT/10 pm ET). “But I’m here to fight him. I’m here to take that belt away from him.’’
Benavidez is heavily-favored. He’s bigger. He’s younger. He’ll be fighting in front of a hometown crowd. He grew up in a tough Phoenix neighborhood, about seven miles from Gila River.
“This fight is not going to go the distance,’’ said Benavidez, who was already at the required weight on Monday. “It’s going to end in a knockout.
“And I’m going to win it.’’