By Norm Frauenheim-
GLENDALE, Ariz. – For a few seconds, there was more to David Benavidez’ future than questions about Canelo Alvarez.
There was his son, Anthony, a toddler in the middle of an audience full of reporters at a boxing news conference.
Anthony giggled. Benavidez smiled, a sure sign that he knew why he was fighting. No question about that one.
The Canelo questions would soon follow. So, too, will another opening bell, this time against David Lemieux Saturday (Showtime 7 pm PT/10 pm ET) at Gila River, a National Hockey League arena about seven miles west of where he grew up in a tough neighborhood on Phoenix’s west side.
There weren’t too many real answers to the Canelo questions. Then again, there never are for Benavidez, who has been frustrated in his pursuit of a big money date with Canelo. The same questions were there the last time Benavidez was in town for a stoppage of Kyrone Davis in downtown Phoenix last November.
Lots has changed since then, of course. Canelo lost his aura of invincibility. Dmitry Bivol beat him. Anthony is walking. The last time Anthony was in Phoenix he was giving his daddy’s fans a fist bump from his stroller. He made his dad smile then, too. A son’s giggle is a father’s motivation. Dad fights on. Maybe, there’s a date with Canelo in his future. Maybe, not.
The business of keeping that possibility – questions and all – in place, however, is Benavidez’ immediate task. The fight is for a so-called interim title, the World Boxing Council’s super-middleweight version. Interim, of course, can mean just about anything. Interim titles get bought out by step-aside money. Interim gets forgotten, almost by definition.
But this one comes with a mandatory – also so-called — challenge of the WBC’s current champion, which happens to still be Canelo, the 168-pound division’s unified champ. The belts weren’t at stake against Bivol in a light-heavyweight stunner a couple of weeks ago.
A victory over Lemieux would also embellish Benavidez’ resume. Benavidez remembers watching Lemieux when he was a kid hanging out at Central Boxing near downtown Phoenix.
“He was the Canadian Mike Tyson,’’ Benavidez said Friday after a formal news conference in a room overlooking a floor that will include a ring instead of a rink Saturday.
Lemieux, of Montreal, has power, especially in his left hand. Lemieux, who lost his most notable fight by stoppage to Canelo rival Gennadiy Golovkin in 2015, is confident that Benavidez has never faced anybody with as much one-punch power.
“Of course not,’’ Lemieux said.
But Lemieux, a former middleweight champion, is moving up from his natural weight, 160 pounds, to 168. Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) is bigger in every measurable way. He’s also younger. Lemieux (43-4, 36 KOs) who has won his last five bouts, is 33. Benavidez is 25. The differences, in years and on the tape, explain the one-sided odds. Benavidez is about a 10-to-1 favorite. Yet, Lemieux’s documented power still looms as a factor.
“David Lemieux is the most dangerous fighter we’ve faced,’’ Benavidez father-and-trainer Jose Sr. said.
Still, David Benavidez is confident he has the skillset to deal with Lemieux’s power.
“It’s not like I’m going to go In there and try to test how strong my chin is,’’ he said. “We’ve worked hard in the gym, put together a plan to deal with his power. I definitely want to follow the game plan. I don’t care (if the KO) comes in the first, second, fifth or 12th round. When it happens, it’ll happen.’’
Best guess: It’ll happen. It’s an element – documented power from both corners — that promises an explosive fight. That, too, is important for Benavidez’ larger resume. He’s pursuing more than just another victory. He wants to do something memorable against a fighter who can hurt him.
Translation: He wants to create a groundswell of support among a growing fanbase already restless for a showdown with Canelo. He’s more than a good dad. He’s a pugilist. And a populist.
Yet, there’s still a question whether any of it will ever lead to a date with Canelo. There’s even some disagreement about that within the Benavidez camp.
David Benavidez and his father think the loss to Bivol improves their chances at Canelo.
“I think it’s more likely now than it was,’’ said David, who learned enough about Bivol from sparring sessions a couple of years ago to know that the Russian had a real chance at beating Canelo. “Before Bivol, there was all this crazy stuff from Canelo about fighting at cruiserweight or even heavyweight. I think Canelo believed all that hype.
“But you’re not going to hear that any more. He’s going to have to come back down to 168 pounds. That means me.’’
But Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz thinks the chances at Canelo are less now than they were pre-Bivol. Canelo’s box-office value took a hit, Lewkowicz says. He also doesn’t think Canelo can restore it in a rematch. Bivol will beat him again, he says.
“There’s no $50 million out there for Canelo anymore,’’ Lewkowicz said. “Will he fight for less? $30 million? $20 million? $10 million? I don’t know. He might just walk away and decide to play golf.’’
A decision from Canelo is forthcoming. His current promoter, Eddie Hearn, says he expects Canelo to decide next week on whether he’ll fight an immediate rematch or go on to a third fight against Golovkin in September.
Whatever Canelo decides, there are still big opportunities for Benavidez. There’s Jermall Charlo and Caleb Plant. David Morrell has emerged as a possibility, too.
Benavidez will stay busy. A toddler’s giggle will make sure of it.
