David Benavidez delighted his home fans at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, as he halted David Lemieux in the third round of their interim WBC super middleweight title contest.
Benavidez has twice previously been WBC champion, and has never lost the belt in the ring, instead being stripped for a failed drug test, and then losing his title on the scales prior to a 2020 win over Roamer Alexis Angulo. Lemieux had previously been an IBF champion at middleweight, but had been in many fun fights that had put miles on the Canadian’s clock, and it showed here.
Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) had Lemieux (43-5, 36 KOs) out on his feet at the close of the very first round, putting together a string of punches to the head, and the bell was the only saving grace for the former world champion.
There would be no respite though, as Benavidez uncorked an uppercut early in the second that sent Lemieux through the ropes and onto the canvas.
He bravely beat the count, but the writing was firmly on the wall, with Benavidez unleashing a variety of power punches with the end nigh.
The referee took close look at Lemieux at the end of round two, and after another brutal assault in the third, Lemieux’s corner had seen enough, and implored the ringside doctor to call an end to the one-sided affair.
David Benavidez hook from hell 🥴 #BenavidezLemieux pic.twitter.com/GaDlLb1BsR
— GOATweather (@FightingReflex) May 22, 2022
Benavidez continues to chase undisputed super middleweight champion, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, but may have to settle for other challengers in the interim.
Ortiz dropped, beats Manuel
Faded former world champion, Victor Ortiz (33-7-3, 25 KOs) now campaigns at super welterweight, and he had to get off the floor before taking a points win against Todd Manuel (20-20-1, 6 KOs) Two scores of 98-91, and a third at 97-92 sealed the win.
#BenavidezLemieux Victor Ortiz victory at Gila River Arena #ShowtimeBoxing 🥊 pic.twitter.com/DaxCaDAeXG
— Arizona Sports Fan (@AzCardinals1988) May 22, 2022
Remaining Undercard
Hot prospect Yoelvis Gomez went to 6-0 (5 KOs) and got ten good rounds in the bank in his win over Jorge Cota (30-6, 27 KOs).
The Cuban super welterweight took all ten rounds on all three scorecards.
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At featherweight, Luis Reynaldo Nunez (17-0, 12 KOs) won the battle of unbeatens, taking a ten round decision win over Jonathan Javier Fierro (13-1, 12 KOs). Three scores of 96-94 won the day for the Dominican.
In the final ten rounder, super lightweight Richardson Hitchins (14-0, 6 KOs) scored a fourth round stoppage against Angel Sarinana Rodriguez (12-11-3, 5 KOs)
In the sole eight round attraction, Estevan Villalobos (16-1-1, 12 KOs) took a third round knockout against Christon Edwards (13-4, 6 KOs).
In six round action, there were first round wins for Jesus Abel Ibarra (14-0, 7 KOs) at super featherweight against Ernesto Guerrero (33-34, 23 KOs), Micky Scala (6-0, 4 KOs) at super welterweight against Mike Plazola (2-2, 1 KO), and for super middleweight debutant Chavon Davis Stillwell (1-0, 1 KO) over Brent Oren (4-9, 1 KO).
At middleweight, Elijah Lorenzo Garcia (11-0, 9 KOs) took a decision victory over Rowdy Legend Montgomery (7-4-1, 5 KOs).
The only four rounder saw another one round blow-out, for Julio Ocampo Hernandez (2-0, 2 KOs), who halted debutant Gibran Perez at super lightweight (0-1).
MORE ACTION LAST NIGHT: Joshua Buatsi defeats Craig Richards via Unanimous Decision.
