David Benavidez: Bout with Jose Uzcategui might be Fight of the Year

With a big super middleweight match-up set between former titleholders David Benavidez and Jose Uzcategui, both fighters appeared for a virtual press conference today to discuss their August 28th main event that will air live on Showtime. Benavidez will be holding home court with the fight set in Phoenix and with the style matchup at hand, Benavidez promises a fight that’s sure to please the fans.

Here’s what Benavidez said at their virtual presser:

“I’m very excited for this fight. I’ve been training for eight weeks and I can’t wait. Uzcategui is not an easy fighter. He’s an ex-world champion looking to be champion again, so we’re at a crossroads, and whoever wins knows they have a big fight coming.

“I’m motivated not just because of Uzcategui, but to fight in Phoenix again. It’s been a long time since I’ve fought in my hometown. I’m feeling fast and strong and ready to get in there and put on a show.

“I don’t put any extra pressure on myself fighting at home. I’m excited to be back fighting in front of a live crowd. I think this is going to be my best fight ever too, just like Uzcategui said, so the winners are going to be the fans on August 28.

“I see the fire in Uzcategui’s eyes and that motivates me. This might be the Fight of the Year. Don’t blink, because this one is going to be explosive.

“I think this will be a harder fight for me than Caleb Plant would be. I think Uzcategui won the second round of that fight against Caleb and I don’t think Caleb has been the same since that fight.

“This is a big opportunity for whoever wins this fight. He’s been in this sport for a long time and has a lot of experience. This is the kind of fight we both need to get to the bigger dogs. I’ll fight whoever I have to in order to get back to the world title. I’m going to earn my opportunity any way it comes.

“It’s a dream come true for me to have my first main event at the Phoenix Suns arena, Footprint Center. Having my brother fighting in the co-main event is a very big deal for me and my family. We’ve been putting in hard work for our whole lives in this sport and it’s paying off. I’m proud of my brother and the work we’ve done.

“I take my career fight-by-fight and I of course want to get back in the ring as soon as possible after this fight. Right now, August 28 is the only thing on my mind. I can’t overlook anybody, especially an ex-champion like Uzcategui.

“I want to be in the game for 10 more years. So it doesn’t matter when the belt comes back to me. I have to keep taking it fight by fight and let the rest take care of itself.

“We both throw good power shots and we’re very similar fighters. When two bulls go toe-to-toe you’re going to get a war. This is going to be one of the best fights of the year. It’s a guaranteed war.

“I know that I can hurt anybody. I’ve hurt everyone I’ve ever faced. I’m not ignorant though, I know that he has power too. I think if I follow my game plan, I can definitely knock him out. No one has knocked him out, so I’m training hard to be the first person to do that. I go for the stoppage in every fight and I know he’s going to come for the same thing.”