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Jose Benavidez Sr. claims David dated Canelo

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Image: Jose Benavidez Sr Says David Took Canelo’s Fight Date

“The last straw. We took his date,” Jose Benavidez Sr. told Mill City Boxing. “We called him. He was there and he went out for a run.”

Benavidez Sr. also suggested that the family is ready to focus on the Mexican Independence Day weekend in September, another event long associated with Canelo in his career.

“Yes, we are waiting,” Jose senior replied when asked about September.

“Everybody’s talking about it now. We’re ready. We’re here. Nobody’s going there. It’s a different time,” Benavidez Sr. said.

The comments reflect how the Benavidez camp increasingly views David as the fresh center of attention for Mexican and Mexican-American boxing fans, especially after Canelo switched to fighting Terence Crawford rather than ultimately fighting Benavidez.

But the reality of the calendar is more complicated than the rhetoric.

Cinco de Mayo became available mainly because Canelo missed the weekend due to a healing elbow injury. September is different. If Canelo stays robust, it’s tough to imagine him voluntarily skipping Mexican Independence Day, which remains one of boxing’s biggest commercial weekends.

Coming out directly against Canelo that day would likely have been highly divisive. Canelo continues to enjoy a larger mainstream fan base, goal history and pay-per-view drawing power despite criticism surrounding the Benavidez situation.

That’s why Jose Sr.’s comments sound more symbolic than literal.

The Benavidez camp appears to be focused on gaining cultural momentum rather than a real attempt to compete financially with Canelo directly. In their eyes, the fact that fans are still talking about the fight all these years later is something of a victory.

The phrase “he went out running” also makes it clear that the bitterness surrounding the fight has not abated. Benavidez’s team still believes Canelo avoided David for stylistic reasons, especially after years of public pressure for the fight to take place at 168 pounds.

Now, instead of directly pursuing the fight, the conversation has turned to legacy, attention and who represents the future of Mexican boxing. Whether that actually translates into Canelo having customary fight weekends is another question entirely.

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Terence Crawford reacts to Errol Spence Jr’s return to boxing three years after his KO loss

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Terence Crawford reacts to Errol Spence Jr’s boxing comeback three years on from KO loss

Terence Crawford has shared his initial thoughts on the return of Errol Spence Jr., who will face former world champion Tim Tszyu on July 25.

Spence has not fought since July 2023, when he was vacated of his WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles following a ninth-round stoppage loss to Crawford.

Indeed, the result sent shockwaves through the boxing community as many expected Spence to become the undisputed champion against his domestic rival.

Crawford, of course, became the undisputed three-division king, dethroning Canelo Alvarez last September, and in December he devoted time to his brilliant career.

As for Spence, it’s challenging to predict what version of “The Truth” will emerge this summer when he faces Tszyu in a non-title bout at 154 pounds.

If nothing else, the extra 7 pounds should make a significant difference as he looks to reinvent himself as a true super welterweight contender.

Meanwhile, Tszyu finds himself in a similar position, looking to claim his first significant victory since unanimously overtaking Brian Mendoza in 2023.

Since then, losses to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev have all but removed the 31-year-old from the world title scene, from which Spence appears even further removed.

Regardless of how his meeting with Tszyu in Australia goes, Crawford promised via social media that he will always support his former enemy.

“It’s good to see you again. Get to work, I’ll support you.”

While Crawford’s unanimous decision victory over Canelo was a phenomenal achievement, many still consider his stoppage of Spence to be a more career-defining moment.

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Shakur Stevenson calls undisputed titles ‘situational’

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Image: Shakur Stevenson Says Undisputed Titles Are “Situational”

“No, I don’t really care,” Shakur Stevenson told The Agnew Project when asked if he would be interested in becoming the undisputed welterweight. “It is what it is,” Shakur said when told the belts would be diluted at 140 pounds.

“It’s because you have to realize that with the uncontested thing, everything is situational. If someone is in the right situation, they can be uncontested and it can be any player,” Stevenson said.

“I think it’s a situational thing. It’s good to have achievements, but what do we do with them now? Do we just say we have them?”

These comments immediately opened the door to criticism, as a Teofimo Lopez fight appears to be an advantageous situation for Shakur compared to other possible routes at 140 pounds.

Teofimo is still highly regarded and holds the WBC title, but his form since moving up to welterweight in 2022 has been inconsistent. Many fans believed that Sandor Martin deserved such a decision. Jamaine Ortiz gave him grave problems with movement and counter-punching, and Steve Claggett was able to pressure him in a way that raised fresh questions about Teofimo’s consistency at this weight.

That’s why some fans see Teofimo as an easier path to the championship than players like Gary Antuanne Russell or Keyshawn Davis.

Russell would likely force Shakur into a much more complex physical fight based on pressure, volume and punching power. Keyshawn, whom Shakur often calls his “brother,” brings size and physicality that many believe could make for some tough times over the course of 12 rounds.

Instead, Shakur appears to be focusing on business fights that carry greater financial rewards and less physical risk versus reward. Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Conor Benn, Lamont Roach and Raymond Muratalla have been mentioned as possible targets.

Even the Crawford connections fit easily into Shakur’s argument. Terence Crawford won the undisputed super middleweight championship against Canelo Alvarez in what many fans thought was the perfect moment. Before losing to Crawford, Canelo was collecting and defending belts without fighting David Benavidez, David Morrell, Osleys Iglesias, Christian Mbilli, Diego Pacheco, Lester Martinez or Hamzah Sheeraz.

That’s why Shakur’s comments stand out. He may have provided one of the more truthful descriptions of state-of-the-art boxing. Stripes still matter, but timing, partner selection, business value and stylistic convenience increasingly determine who has a chance to become undisputed.

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Liam Cameron adopted a ‘surfer’ stance ahead of his clash with Brad Rea

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Liam Cameron embraces ‘surfer’ mindset ahead of Brad Rea showdown

Liam Cameron is working with a sports psychologist in hopes of strengthening his already robust mindset ahead of his lithe heavyweight clash with Brad Rea.

Anyone who knows Yorkshireman’s story he will know that reaching this stage in his life required considerable strength and perseverance, not to mention a boxing career.

Because of this, Cameron knows how incredibly crucial it is to maintain a robust attitude, especially in a sport like boxing.

By hiring a sports psychologist, the 35-year-old could gain a fresh perspective on the fear factor surrounding his chosen profession.

And this, as he tells Boxing News, only allowed him to better understand the reasons why he decided to practice the most hard sport.

“As humans, we complicate things. Our minds get carried away, we think about everything too much.

“As boxers, we have to have a surfer’s mindset: we can’t predict what waves will come, but we have to ride the wave when it comes. We can’t think, ‘Oh, this wave is too huge.’

“[The sports psychologist] he sent me a video [actor] Will Smith jumping out of a plane. Nobody forces Will Smith to get on a plane – just like in boxing, nobody forces us to fight.

“But all this fear accumulates in our head, and once we jump, the fear disappears.

“So, [working with a mindset coach has] It made me realize that I only box because I love it.”

Cameron still recalls his passion for the sport, but he’s still riding the wave of his points victory over Troy Jones in November.

It was quite a questionable result and perhaps not his best performance, but Cameron is gaining confidence because he was able to cope with the task after his injury.

“I took the fight on four weeks’ notice and got really badly injured. Being the person I am, I thought, ‘There are levels to this game. I can still beat this guy.’

“So I got into the ring, not being able to hit any huge shots or move my head, and I worked tough for myself. But if I can do that while properly injured, what will I be like now?”

“It was a trapped nerve in the shoulder joint, but it was pulling at my neck. Not many people would go through a struggle with that feeling.”

Indeed, Cameron is able to overcome the pain barrier more than most, even if it means performing a more menial task.

However, having fully recovered from his injury, the former Commonwealth champion is now determined to showcase his technical skills against Rei.

The two opponents will face each other on May 9, appearing on the undercard of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, where Cameron expects to take full advantage of Rei’s alleged defensive shortcomings.

“We did a lot of southpaw sparring this camp because we know Brad likes change [stances].

“But I grew up in Sheffield, where fighters are often southpaws, so I actually prefer it [fighting] southpaws.

“I think Brad has the heart of a lion when he boxes, but I think that makes him not as good as he should be. He just ends up swinging because he wants to win so bad.”

Believing he is a level above, Cameron expects to convincingly defeat Rhea, the former European champion, yet he is prepared for waves of all shapes and sizes.

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