Boxing is loaded with knockout artists at various weight classes, but only a select few can be labeled “don’t blink” fighters. David Benavidez is certainly one of them.
David Benavidez fires an uppercut at Kevin Cobbs during their fight in January. Benavidez won by second-round knockout, one of his 14 stoppage victories in 15 fights. (Suzanne Teresa/Premier Boxing Champions)
Not only has Benavidez recorded 14 knockouts in 15 fights since turning pro three years ago, but the unbeaten 19-year-old obliterated 12 of those opponents inside of two rounds—including nine first-round wipeouts.
David Benavidez (15-0, 14 KOs) will try for another quick finish when he returns to the ring August 5 to battle fellow 168-pound prospect Denis Douglin (20-4, 13 KOs) at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
The 10-round bout headlines a Premier Boxing Champions card that also features undefeated 130-pound contender Alejandro Luna (20-0, 15 KOs) of Bellflower, California, against Ireland’s Stephen Ormond (21-2, 11 KOs).
Benavidez, who lives in Phoenix, launched his career fighting in Mexico with seven stoppage victories before his 18th birthday, with six of those coming in the opening round.
After earning a shutout, six-round victory over Azamat Umarzoda in Phoenix three days after his 18th birthday in December 2014, Benavidez embarked on another seven-fight knockout streak, culminating with a seventh-round TKO of undefeated Francy Ntetu on June 25 in what represents the longest fight of his career.
With the victory over Ntetu, Benavidez is already 3-0 this year, and his fight against Douglin will be his sixth in 11 months.
“We never stopped training after my last fight,” said Benavidez, the younger brother of undefeated 24-year-old Jose Benavidez (24-0, 16 KOs). “We went right back into camp, and I’m already in fighting shape.
“Douglin is a tough southpaw. We’ll look at tape and see what kind of holes he has. I’ll start with the jab and break him down. We’re working hard toward bigger and bigger fights.”
Like Benavidez, Douglin began his career with a bang, knocking out eight opponents on his way to a 12-0 start. The 28-year-old from Marlboro, New Jersey, subsequently lost four of his next nine bouts, including stoppage defeats to 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo and three-time 168-pound title challenger George Groves.
However, he’s since rebounded with three consecutive stoppage victories, most recently defeating Marcus Upshaw by eighth-round TKO on December 29.
“I plan on applying pressure and making Benavidez adjust to my style,” Douglin said. “He’s a tall, strong fighter, but he doesn’t use his height … [and] doesn’t have the experience to deal with my style.
“I am stepping in with an undefeated fighter, but he will leave the ring with a loss.”
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