Undefeated two-time world champion David “Bandera Roja” Benavidez, originally from Phoenix, Arizona, will face former world champion from Canada David Lemieux in a bout where the interim World Boxing Council super middleweight title will be at stake, next Saturday, May 21, at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The 25-year-old Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs), who comes into this fight after knocking out his last five opponents, is trained by his father Jose Benavidez. In 2017. He became the youngest super middleweight champion in boxing history by defeating 20-year-old Ronald Gavril.
David Benavidez went from a 15-year sparring partner with Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin, to a world title contender with a 10-fight knockout streak from 2015 to 2017, including a knockout of Rogelio “Porky” Medina, earning him his First shot at the world title.
Originally from Montreal, Canada, David Lemieux (43-4, 36 KOs) has won five straight fights, including three wins in the super middleweight division.
Lemiux became world middleweight champion in June 2015, defeating Hassan N’Dam, before losing a unification fight against Gennady Golovkin later that year. Lemieux earned a second shot at the 160-pound title and lost a decision to Billy Joe Saunders in December 2017.
Lemieux is a power puncher who has defeated a host of quality contenders including Curtis Stevens, Gabriel Rosado, Gary O’Sullivan and Glen Tapia.
The fight, which is part of the Premier Boxing Champions series, will be televised on Showtime.
WBC Super Middleweight Interim World Championship
May 21, 2022 / Glendale, Arizona / Gila River Arena
SAMPSON BOXING & TGB PROMOTIONS PRESENT:
DAVID “El Bandera Roja” BENAVIDEZ (USA)
Ranked WBC No. 1 at super middleweight
Former 2-time WBC Super Middleweight World Champion
Age: 25 / Date of birth: December 17, 1996
Residence: Seattle, Washington / Birthplace: Phoenix, Arizona
Record: 25-0, 22 KOs / Total rounds: 115 / World championship fights: 4-0, 2 KOs
Height: 6’0.5″ – 184cm / Reach: 74.5″ – 189cm / Stance: Right-handed
Promoter: Sampson Lewkowicz / Manager, trainer: Jose Benavidez Sr.
DAVID LEMIEUX (Canada)
Ranked WBC No. 2 at super middleweight
Age: 33 / Date of birth: December 22, 1988
Residence, birthplace: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Record: 43-4, 36 KOs / Total rounds: 197 / World championship fights: 1-2, 0 KOs
Height: 5’9″ – 175cm / Reach: 70″ – 178cm / Stance: Right-handed
Promoter: Camille Estephan: Eye of the Tiger Promotions / Trainer: Marc Ramsay
WBC SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONS
1. Ray Leonard (US) 1988 – 1990
2. Mauro Galvano (Italy) 1990 – 1992
3. Nigel Benn (GB) 1992 – 1996
4. Thulane Malinga (S. Afr) 1996
5. Vincenzo Nardiello (Ita) 1996
6. Robin Reid (GB) 1996 – 1997
7. Thulane Malinga (S. Afr) * 1997 – 1998
8. Richie Woodhall (GB) 1998 – 1999
9. Markus Beyer (Germany) 1999 – 2000
10. Glenn Catley (GB) 2000
11. Dingaan Thobela (S. Afr) 2000
12. Dave Hilton (Can) 2000
13. Eric Lucas (Can) 2001 – 2003
14. Markus Beyer (Germany) * 2003 – 2004
15. Danny Green (Australia) Interim 2003 – 2005
16. Cristian Sanavia (Italy) 2004
17. Markus Beyer (Germany) * 2004 – 2006
18. Mikkel Kessler (Den) 2006 – 2007
19. Joe Calzaghe (GB) 2007
20. Carl Froch (GB) 2008 – 2010
21. Mikkel Kessler (Den) * (Emeritus) 2010
22. Carl Froch (GB) * 2010 – 2011
23. Andre Ward (US) 2011 – 2012
24. Sakio Bika (Cameroon) 2013
25. Anthony Dirrell (US) 2014 – 2015
26. Badou Jack (Sweden-US) 2015 – 2017
27. David Benavidez (US) 2017 – 2018
28. Anthony Dirrell (US) * 2019
29. David Benavidez (US)* 2019 – 2020
30. Canelo Alvarez (Mexico) 2020 –
* Regained
WBC TOP 10 SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONS
1. Ray Leonard (US)
2. Joe Calzaghe (GB)
3. Nigel Benn (GB)
4. Andre Ward (US)
5. Markus Beyer (Germany)
6. Carl Froch (GB)
7. Mikkel Kessler (Denmark)
8. Robin Reid (GB)
9. Danny Green (Australia)
10. Eric Lucas (Canada)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
25 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, five of whom have regained the title: Thulane Malinga (S. Africa), Markus Beyer two times (Germany), Carl Froch (GB), Anthony Dirrell (US), David Benavidez (US).
74 super middleweight world championships bouts have been sanctioned in WBC history.
MEMORABLE WBC SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Nov. 6, 2021 Canelo Alvarez TKO11 Caleb Plant – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 8, 2021 Canelo Alvarez TKO8 Billy Joe Saunders – Arlington, Texas
Dec. 19, 2020 Canelo Alvarez W12 Callum Smith – San Antonio, Texas
Aug. 15, 2020 David Benavidez TKO10 Alexis Angulo – Uncasville, Connecticut
Sep. 28, 2019 David Benavidez KO9 Anthony Dirrell – Los Angeles, California
Feb. 23, 2019 Anthony Dirrell TW10 Avni Yildirim – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Feb. 17, 2018 David Benavidez W12 Ronald Gavril – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 8, 2017 David Benavidez W12 Ronald Gavril – Las Vegas, Nevada
Jan. 14, 2017 Badou Jack D12 James DeGale – Brooklyn, New York
Apr. 30, 2016 Badou Jack D12 Lucian Bute – Washington, D.C.
Sep. 9, 2015 Badou Jack W12 George Groves – Las Vegas, Nevada
Apr. 24, 2015 Badou Jack W12 Anthony Dirrell – Chicago, Illinois
Aug. 16, 2014 Anthony Dirrell W12 Sakio Bika – Carson, California
Sep. 8, 2012 Andre Ward TKO10 Chad Dawson – Oakland, California
Dec. 17, 2011 Andre Ward W12 Carl Froch – Atlantic City, New Jersey
Nov. 27, 2010 Carl Froch W12 Arthur Abraham – Helsinki, Finland
Dec. 6, 2008 Carl Froch W12 Jean Pascal – Nottingham, England
Nov. 3, 2007 Joe Calzaghe w12 Mikkel Kessler – Cardiff, Wales
Oct. 14, 2006 Mikkel Kessler KO3 Markus Beyer – Copenhagen, Denmark
Mar. 12, 2005 Markus Beyer W12 Danny Green – Zwickau, Germany
Jul. 10, 2001 Eric Lucas KO7 Glenn Catley – Montreal, Quebec
Mar. 27, 198 Richie Woodhall W12 Thulani Malinga – Telford, England
May 3, 1997 Robin Reid W12 Henry Wharton – Manchester, England
Mar. 2, 1996 Thulani Malinga W12 Nigel Benn – Newcastle, England
Oct. 3, 1992 Nigel Benn TKO4 Mauro Galvano – Marino, Italy
Dec. 7, 1989 Sugar Ray Leonard W12 Roberto Duran – Las Vegas, Nevada
Nov. 7, 1988 Sugar Ray Leonard W12 Donny Lalonde – Las Vegas, Nevada
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