David Benavidez frustrated and looking for big fight after Ronald Ellis

Former super middleweight champion David Benavidez wants to take care of Ronald Ellis, then move on to a major boxing bout. 

David Benavidez vs. Ronald Ellis doesn’t have big-fight buzz, but Benavidez needs to get past Ellis if he wants a chance at a higher profile boxing event.

On Saturday, March 13, the former WBC super middleweight champion Benavidez fights Ellis in what was originally billed as a WBC title eliminator on Showtime. That claim is more dubious since the winner of this fight was supposed to fight the winner of Anthony Dirrell and Kyrone Davis. Dirrell and Davis fought to a draw, which makes the future for Benavidez more complicated.

Assuming Benavidez defeats Ellis if Benavidez doesn’t have any obligations to meet, he wants a big-name opponent. He suggested a few during a recent press conference.

“The [Jermall] Charlo fight is the one that I want to make happen in September,” said Benavidez. “Charlo has a lot to say about me, and at the end of the day, we are probably the best fighters in PBC and at SHOWTIME. So why not make it happen? On both my end and Charlo’s end. He doesn’t really have anyone else at 160, so it seems like a fight that should be fairly easy to make. I think Charlo makes the most sense because we both need a signature win to get to Canelo.”

Benavidez (23-0, 20 KOs) targets a future fight with undefeated WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo. Charlo would have to move up in weight to make the fight happen, but they are both represented by PBC and Al Haymon, which would make it easier to negotiate.

David Benavidez battles Ronald Ellis next, but he’s looking towards new heights against Jermall Charlo, Caleb Plant, and Canelo Alvarez

Benavidez was realistic about his chances of getting a fight with super middleweight titlist Canelo Alvarez. Alvarez fights Billy Joe Saunders on May 8 and is positioning himself for a showdown with IBF champion Caleb Plant in the fall for undisputed status.

“I would love to get a fight with Caleb Plant,” said Benavidez. “I think they’ve just been trying to give Plant the easy route so that they can prep him for a Canelo fight. They’re waiting to cash him out. He’s been getting back-to-back really easy fights. Even after he loses to Canelo, because I don’t think he can beat him, I would still love to get in the ring with him. Me and him still have a lot of unsettled business. I don’t like him at all.”

Benavidez did express some frustration at not landing bigger fights.

“Yeah, a little bit, but I feel like everything’s working out on my end,” Benavidez told FanSided during the press conference. “I’ve got time on my side. I just turned 24 years old. I think time is running out for these other fighters. I’m the youngest ex-champion in this game at the super middleweight division. The time is on my side. I have at least 12 years left in this game.”

Benavidez has high hopes for the future after the Ellis fight. Ellis (18-1-2, 12 KOs) beat Matvey Korobov by technical decision in his last fight after Korobov couldn’t continue after suffering an ankle injury. Ellis was losing the fight up to that point.

Benavidez is a heavy favorite over Ellis. All the momentum is in Benavidez’s corner. Hopefully, it will lead to a megafight with either Charlo, Plant, or Alvarez in the future.

Watch David Benavidez vs. Ronald Ellis on Saturday, March 13, on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET.