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David Benavidez vs. David Lemieux
Virtual Press Conference
Unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Bandera Roja”
Benavídez and former world champion David Lemieux previewed
their 12-round showdown for the vacant Interim WBC Super
Middleweight Title with both knockout artists forecasting
fireworks during a virtual press conference Tuesday before
headlining live on SHOWTIME Saturday, May 21 from Gila River
Arena in Glendale, Ariz. in a Premier Boxing Champions
event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 10 p.m.
ET/7 p.m. PT headlined by Benavídez returning to fight in
his home state of Arizona for the second-straight outing
after delivering a knockout victory over Kyrone Davis in
November 2021 on SHOWTIME. He will be taking on a
hard-hitting former champion in Lemieux, making May 21 a
clash of power punchers, as the two fighters have combined
for 58 knockouts in their 68 wins (85% KO rate).
Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday:
DAVID BENAVIDEZ
“I’m very excited to go into this fight against Lemieux,
because he’s a guy I’ve watched for a long time and I like
his style. We both have similar styles because we go for the
knockout. That gets me very excited and motivates me a lot.
“We’re also fighting for the interim title and that makes
the stage that much bigger. I’ve been training hard in camp
for about three months getting ready for this fight. I’m
just ready to go back home and win that title.
“If you win the interim title that means the next fight has
to be for the title. I don’t think it should be any
difference in this case. If Canelo Alvarez wants to fight at
light heavyweight, then he’s going to have to vacate. It’s
only fair.
“I train extremely hard to make sure I get the knockout. I
just feel like I’m at my peak right now. I have a lot of
skills, power and great experience. I know it won’t be easy,
but I’ve done everything right in the gym.
“I see flaws in David’s game and I’m sure he sees flaws in
me. I know he wants to stop me, and I want to stop him. This
is going to be a great fight for the fans. This could be the
Fight of the Year because of what’s at stake and because of
the type of fighters we are. We’re two bulls going in there
to see who has the most heart.
“I just want everyone to see that I’m the best in this
weight class. I’m only looking at the fight in front of me.
I have to win this fight before I can win anything else. But
I do feel like everyone knows where I stand in this
division. I’ve been calling out the best and I respect
Lemieux for stepping up to take this fight.
“I wanted to fight back in Arizona again because we had a
great event in November. This is my first title fight back
at home and it’s a dream come true for me. Everything has
fallen into place for me. I’ve had an amazing camp and I’m
preparing for a great opponent. This has all the makings for
a great fight. The energy is right. This is one of the
biggest fights of my life and that’s how seriously I’m
taking it.
“We’ve been in camp for a long time and we’ve been feeding
off of each other’s energy. I’ve been putting in the work
and getting my miles in. Seeing Jose Valenzuela and Diego
Pacheco have great victories gives me even more energy.
We’re all like brothers and we all push each other.
“The main goal for myself is to become unified champion at
168-pounds. It’s not just about me. I have a lot of fans
that support me, and I’m doing it for them. They’ve
supported me so much, so I want them to know that I’ve put
110% into training camp every time they come to a fight.
“I feel like I deserve the biggest fights. I’ve paid my dues
and I’ve been here for a long time. But I have plenty of
fuel in the gym solely because of how big this fight is. I
think the other top guys are making a mistake not giving me
the fight now, because the more I’m in the ring, the more
I’m learning. It’s going to turn around and bite them when
it’s time to get in the ring with me. Everything is going to
be through the roof.”
DAVID LEMIEUX
“I’m expecting a great fight. David Benavídez is a very
tough fighter. We’ve been watching him for a while. He’s
always very exciting. His style of fighting – he comes to
fight – there’s no messing around with him. That’s my style
too. Two bulls going in there and may the best man win this
title. We want that WBC belt around my waste and I’m
planning on having it on fight night.
“I know it’s a difficult fight. I’m training very hard and
doing everything I need to do inside the gym. I don’t want
to lose this opportunity. I know Benavídez is a great
fighter. I’m going to work very hard and bring the best that
David Lemieux can bring. I’m leaving with the WBC title on
fight night.
“I do believe that my power will translate at 168 pounds.
I’ve been working a lot to integrate into the 168-pound
division and I believe my power will be at its peak on fight
night. Benavídez is a big guy. We know that. But we’re
preparing and we have the right sparring partners. I’m going
to go in there and be very strong. It’s been a long time
since I’ve had an opponent like Benavídez, but I’m excited.
I’m very hyped up about this fight. I know what a victory
will do for my career and I won’t miss my shot.
“I’m not looking past this fight. I’m just concentrated on
Benavidez. This is a big fight ahead of me. Canelo chooses a
lot of his fights but there are rules in boxing that you
have to respect. The winner of the interim belt has to fight
the champion so if he follows the rules, the rules are the
rules. That’s it.
“It’s definitely a big task in front of me. When I sat down
with my team and Benavídez’s name came up, we knew it was a
tough fight. He’s a tough fighter and a big guy, but we’re
preparing and getting ready for him. It’s all in the
preparation. Styles make fights. I have the style to hurt
Benavídez and I’m training hard to beat this guy.
“Anything can be done, you just have to go out and do it.
David Benavídez is a very good fighter but everybody is
beatable. Nobody is invincible. That’s what we have to
prove. There’s no cheating boxing. You train hard for a
fight. You don’t underestimate your opponent and surprises
can happen. I’m planning on bringing that title back home to
Montreal.
“Regardless of your age, it’s really now or never in every
fight in the boxing ring. You don’t get many chances to
leave a good mark in the game, so every fight needs to be
taken very seriously, especially a fight of this magnitude.
There’s a lot at stake for me. I know I’m the underdog, but
I don’t care. I’m just going in there to fight, underdog or
not. I’ve been the underdog in the past and I’ve won the
fights. It doesn’t really bother me.
“The eight pounds makes a world of a difference. 160 pounds
was very difficult to make, especially towards the end. I
feel great training at 168. I’m very comfortable making that
weight. I’m training very hard, building strength and muscle
and not worrying about cutting weight. I’m feeling great.
“I feel like I’ve been underestimated during my career. But
the only way to come back is with a strong victory against
an opponent of an elite level. That’s what I’m planning on
doing on May 21.”
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