Benavidez trounces Love in two
David Benavidez is back, and the super middleweights should be on alert.
Former super middleweight titleholder David Benavidez lost his belt due to a failed VADA drug test last year, but now that he’s off suspension and back in the ring, he looks hungry to get it back.
Benavidez remained unbeaten, going to 21-0 (18 KO) by absolutely smashing J’Leon Love tonight at AT&T Stadium.
Benavidez hurt Love in the first round, sending him back to his corner clearly dazed, and wasted no time hunting for the finish in the second round. He clubbed Love (24-3-1, 13 KO) with a big right hand, prompting referee Laurence Cole to rush in and call a halt to the contest at 1:14 of round two.
Benavidez previously held the WBC super middleweight title, which was recently won by Anthony Dirrell, who defeated Avni Yildirim via technical decision on Feb. 23 to claim the title for a second time.
Benavidez called Dirrell out after the fight.
“I knew what was gonna happen,” Benavidez said. “I said I was going to look spectacular, and that’s what I did. I seen Anthony Dirrell win that title, he can’t call himself a champion until he comes and sees me. I’m gonna go get my belt back. I need that belt. That’s mine.”
Dirrell was interviewed by Kate Abdo after everyone cleared out of the ring.
“That’s my belt, I own that belt now, and you gotta go through me to get it. He did what he was supposed to do. David Benavidez is a great fighter, and it would be a good fight between me and him,” Dirrell said at the FOX Sports desk.
We’ll have to see how that situation unfolds, as the WBC is set to make a ruling this week. Yildirim has asked for a rematch with Dirrell, and they haven’t made a decision on that as of yet. Dirrell and Benavidez are both PBC fighters, so in theory it’s an easy fight to make if that’s what the sanctioning body orders.
CompuBox saw Benavidez land a robust 61 of 117 (52%) total punches, and 53 of 96 (55%) of his power shots. Love landed 19 of 113 (17%) total punches, and 15 of 67 (22%) power shots.