From 18st kid to world champion – the rise of Benavidez

Anthony Yarde vs. David Benavidez

Date: November 22 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

David Benavidez was 12 years old and weighed 18 kg (117 kg).

He will weigh 12st 7lbs (79 kg) when the American, the defending WBC light-heavyweight champion, takes to the ring on Saturday against Briton Anthony Yarde.

Images of Benavidez, a 28-year-old and two-weight world champion, training with his father online show how far he has come to be in the necessary shape to succeed.

He told BBC Sport, “I would never have imagined that I would be one of the biggest fighters in boxing today.”

“I remained confident in myself.” I was always aware that anything is possible with work. Never have I abandoned myself. I initially struggled with my fitness.

I did succeed in achieving my goals with determination and determination. I want to communicate to the children in this way.

“It could be any number of kids or other men to take my story into their lives and achieve anything,” I said.

Plans were made for Benavidez to drop 100 pounds as his older brother Jose grew in the amateur ranks.

By the age of 15, Gennady Golovkin, a multiple middleweight world champion, was competing against him.

The Phoenix-born boxer recalled that his father had been teaching him since he was three years old.

“I had a strong self-assurance. When I first started boxing at age 11, we gradually started moving and reducing the weight.

When I lost that first 100 pounds, I was 260 pounds before I dropped to 168 pounds. Let’s continue the training and see where it leads, and that’s when I realized I had the most of it out.

America’s 30-0 world champion is as humble as they come on a mission to inspire the next generation, in a sport with inflated egos.

Benavidez began to think he could be the best in his field after reaching 17-0 with 16 knockouts.

He has openly discussed the weight issues he faced as a young child and draws “motivation” from inspiring others, coming from a culture where six-packs and muscles are expected.

“I get a lot of people who message me online and say that my story has inspired them to lose weight,” Benavidez said.

Some people need to realize that it is possible to live their lives.

“Seeing my story and making it happen in their lives makes me really happy,” I said. Because there is always someone who can help me, I keep telling my story over and over again.

“I don’t mind talking about it because I understand how it feels to never lose weight or achieve your goals in life.”

Before his Saudi Arabian fight against Londoner Yarde, Benavidez was given the title of interim light-heavyweight champion after two fights as interim WBC champion.

He twice lost his super-middleweight title to complications outside of the ring, including a cocaine test positive in 2018 and a weight loss in 2020.

If those problems are resolved, Benavidez wants to fight light-heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol in the future if he can defeat Yarde, 34, who was previously beaten by Sergey Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight belt and Artur Beterbiev for the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles in 2023.

He continued, “I haven’t overlooked Anthony Yarde.”

He has won three world titles, I am aware of. He certainly exerts a lot of effort. He is known for having a lot of guts and a big heart, and I am aware of that.

“Dmitry Bivol has all those belts, and I want all the titles.” Other outstanding combatants include Artur Beterbiev and others.

There is also the chance to fight [Gilberto] Zurdo Ramirez at cruiserweight.