The Benavidez brothers are making a dream come true.
The two brothers are fighting on the same card. That card also happens to be a major pay-per-view event.
Jose Benavidez faces WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo this Saturday. The bout will be at a catchweight of 163 lbs, and the co-feature of the pay-per-view. The fight will be on Saturday, November 25th. Headlined by David Benavidez versus Demetrius Andrade. Yet, the story might be beneath the surface. Rather than the war of words, it might be 'mission accomplished'. The Benavidez brothers are fighting on the same card. Most might not know how much David looks up to his older brother Jose. If you watched today’s media workout you could see glimpses of it. The two trained together as the last pair for the media obligation. As they seek to go undefeated on Saturday night.
"You know this is something very special, something we dreamed about since we were kids," said Benavidez Jr. "Being in a big arena, big in [these] type of venues. It is crazy just to know we made it. We are here, all that hard work is paying off. Now [that we are here] taking on the world from here. I am thankful to have my brother and my dad next to me."
“This is a dream come true,” said Jose Benavidez Jr. “Ever since David and I were kids, it’s something we dreamed about. It took a long time and a lot of hard work, but we’re here as a team and I wouldn’t want to be here with anybody else. It’s going to be a good night for the whole Benavídez family.”
Benavidez Jr. entered the pros with a lot of steam. Turning pro at 17 years old. It was Frankie Gomez and Benavidez Jr., as the biggest prospects in the sport. Benavidez went to Top Rank, and Gomez went to Golden Boy. Benavidez now faces a man, who has done what he has always wanted to do. Fight on his brother's cards. Jermall Charlo has spent a good part of his career sharing the top bill with his brother, Jermell. Now - both Benavidez brothers are getting to do what they had always hoped for fight on a big stage. Benavidez Jr. will move up in weight to challenge Charlo who has been inactive for over two years. Though no title is on the line the fight seems to hold a lot of meaning to Jose Benavidez Jr.
“The only reason why the energy is different from the first press conference is because I’m not trying to get this fight canceled," said Benavidez Jr. "I told him if he tries to get in my face or act tough, I’m going to whoop his ass. That’s exactly what I’m going to do on Saturday night. I’m just waiting until fight night.”
“If I was just a stepping stone, why didn’t he put the belt on the line? He should be ready to fight for the belt. He’s the champion, right? He looks like a bum."
For such a talented fighter, Benavidez Jr. has had a hard life. He was shot in the leg. He has lost his big fights. Now at 31-years-old, the once-promising prospect is trying to right the ship of his career. Ahead of him is Jermall Charlo, who has dealt with personal problems. The bout serves as a crossroads fight for both. It serves as a compelling co-feature for the final Showtime pay-per-view of 2023. Which could for all we know be the last Showtime pay-per-view ever.
