Status as pound-for-pound ruler is something many fighters aspire to though few achieve. Chris Eubank Sr believes one man deserves it more than any right now.
Eubank held world championships in two weight classes – the WBO middleweight and WBO super-middleweight titles – and was a formidable puncher with slick defences. He beat the likes of Nigel Benn and Michael Watson but lost to Steve Collins in a golden era for British boxing.
Speaking on Call Chris Eubank, Senior was asked who he thinks is the best fighter on the planet right now. While most fans have either Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk or Nayoa Inoue, Eubank went with ‘The Mexican Monster’, David Benavidez.
“In my view, and has been for most certainly four or five years, the name is David Benavidez.
One day I was speaking to a promoter in the US and he introduced the idea to have my son fight this David Benavidez, my answer was ‘who? No.’ I’ll put it to you this way. His ability is outstanding. You look at him and if you love boxing, you know boxing, are a connoisseur of boxing, you’d say I’m privileged to be alive in the time this man is boxing.”
He continued to heap praise on the former two-time super middleweight champion and compared him to a heavyweight legend.
“David Benavidez, you really are something. The reason many haven’t heard his name is really he is far too good for his own good. You have to be with the right promoter. For anyone with any sense, stay well away from him. You’re talking about a modern-day Mike Tyson, in a way.”
Benavidez – a relentless pressure fighter – long chased a fight with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez but it never materialised. Instead, he moved up to light-heavyweight to become Interim WBC champion and next time out takes on David Morrell in a high-stakes bout.
Should he be victorious, Benavidez will look to take on the winner of the rematch between undisputed king Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, slated for February.
