Benavidez defends his WBC super middleweight crown in Showtime’s Aug. 15 main event.
WBC super middleweight titlist David Benavidez will return to action in Showtime’s Aug. 15 main event, defending against upset-minded veteran Roamer Alexis Angulo from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Benavidez, 23, is already a two-time 168-pound titleholder, having first won the WBC title in Sept. 2017, beating Ronald Gavril for the vacant belt. After having to give it up following a failed drug test (cocaine), he came back to regain the title from Anthony Dirrell in Sept. 2019.
At 22-0 (19 KO), the young Benavidez has delivered on his potential to date, and stands as one of the best super middleweights in the sport today. And unlike some, he feels he’s fully prepared to get right back into action, as he has a private gym to work in during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“It’s been almost a year since the last time I fought, so I’m very eager to get back in the ring and give the fans a great fight,” said Benavidez. “Training camp has been amazing. Fortunately, my dad opened his own gym just before the pandemic, so we’ve had private training and been able to safely bring in sparring partners to help me work. I’m facing a very tricky and rugged fighter, so I’m taking him very seriously. I feel like I can take advantage of some openings in his defense and look for the knockout like I do every fight.”
Angulo (26-1, 22 KO) is a 36-year-old Colombian, now based in Miami, and has had a couple of notable fights to date. He challenged for the WBO 168-pound title in 2018, losing a wide decision to Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, but turned a lot of heads this past January when he upset previously-unbeaten prospect Anthony Sims Jr on a Matchroom card. Sims was seen by many as a future contender, but Angulo won a deserved decision that night, and has his mind set on pulling another 2020 upset.
“I’m ready for anything that happens in the ring on Aug. 15,” said Angulo. “This is going to be a great fight for the fans because of the style I bring to the ring. Benavidez is a strong champion, but my style will be too much for him and I will have my hand raised on fight night.”
