David Benavidez talks Alexis Angulo, Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant

David Benavidez has a tougher bout in Alexis Angulo than people realize, but he’s ready. Still, he wants big fights with Canelo or Caleb Plant.

There are a lot of lucrative fights awaiting WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez, but he has to get by Roamer Alexis Angulo first, which isn’t going to be easy.

Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) is a two-time world titlist at the age of 23. He has devastating power and is still punching his way into his prime. People are eager to see him fight fellow champions like Caleb Plant, Canelo Alvarez, and Callum Smith, but he has several obstacles in his way.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, on Showtime, Benavidez defends his title against Angulo. Angulo (26-1, 22 KOs) is the type of sleeper opponent that spoils dreams for fighters that are heavy favorites. He doesn’t have anywhere near the name recognition of the previously named boxers, but he’s dangerous.

In January, Anthony Sims Jr. was a prospect on the fast track towards a world title shot. Angulo spoiled his ambitions for the moment by outworking him to earn a split-decision victory. He’s a boxer that flies under the radar, but Benavidez is aware of the threat Angulo poses.

“I feel like the reason he’s coming off of a win against Anthony Sims, and he gave Zurdo Ramirez a good fight is because people really underestimated him a lot,” Benavidez told FanSided. “He’s done a lot of good things that you might not catch, but if you really pay attention to him, he knows what he’s doing.

“It’s going to be a tough fight. I’m not overlooking Roamer. I know what he brings to the table, and I know he’s a tough fighter.”

During the pandemic era of boxing, numerous odds-on-favorite boxers have fallen victim to underdogs. Worldwide lockdowns and safety restrictions have closed gyms and limited training opportunities for fighters. Benavidez avoided many of those difficulties.

“We didn’t have any difficulties at all,” relayed Benavidez. “Unfortunately, there were a lot of gyms that closed, but the thing about it is that my dad was opening a gym right before the pandemic hit. We actually had our own private space here. As soon as the pandemic hit, we had our private space because my dad hadn’t even opened the gym to the public.”

Angulo is the type of crowd-pleasing fighter that’s willing to take a punch to deliver his own. He only has a single loss on his record, which came against former champion Gilberto Ramirez in 2018. Angulo’s power makes him a scary opponent.

“He’s a little bit more of a wide fighter,” said Benavidez of Angulo. “He likes to throw power punches, so I’m trying to put up a good gameplan for him. I feel come Saturday, it’s going to be a great night for me because I feel I look the best when I fight brawlers. He’s a brawler, but he has heavy hands, so I’ve got to be very careful.”

David Benavidez wants any of the champions if successful against Roamer Alexis Angulo, but prefers a fight with Caleb Plant

Benavidez is confident he will prevail against Angulo. A future showdown with undefeated IBF champion Caleb Plant is the fight people want to see next, but signing that fight isn’t simple.

“I have to take care of this fight,” said Benavidez. “I’m pretty sure everything is going to come out good. I have to take care of the mandatory. These people are really bugging for that fight, the mandatory with [Avni] Yildirim. Ather that, I want to get a big name in there. I either want to get Caleb Plant or anybody else. I feel like it’s time.”

Plant isn’t the only major name out there, but it’s the one the public wants. Benavidez wants a bout with Plant above all others.

“The fight that I want the most is Caleb Plant,” said Benavidez. “That’s the one I want the most. That’s the one I feel like a lot of boxing fans are excited to see. I feel like the biggest fight in that division is obviously Canelo. It has to be Canelo. But Canelo, it’s a little harder to get fights with him because he has so many options. And also, I think Callum Smith would be a huge fight because there would be so much on the line.”

When asked about how his résumé stacks up against Plant’s, Benavidez offered his assessment.

“My résumé is way better than him,” said Benavidez. “I’ve been fighting better opposition since I was 18 years old, 19 years old. His résumé doesn’t really impress me because of his age. What is he, 27 years old? I have the better resume on that part.”

Benavidez and Plant have a history of bad blood, but he still respects Plant as a boxer and complimented his skillset.

“Nonetheless, he’s a good fighter,” said Benavidez. “Whatever they want to say, he’s a good fighter. That’s why I’m here in this game. I want to fight the people that are good. I want to prove everybody wrong. I don’t want to get in there and bad mouth the guy because I don’t like him. He’s a good fighter, and that’s why I want to fight him.”

The business of boxing is messy. Before Benavidez can fight Plant, Alvarez, or Smith, he needs to beat Angulo and defend his title against mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim. It may be a while before a megafight is made for Benavidez.

David Benavidez vs. Roamer Alexis Angulo headlines Showtime’s boxing card on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 9 p.m. ET.