-
Eric WoodyardESPN
Former WBC super middleweight titleholder David Benavidez says he will return to the ring on March 13 against Ronald Ellis.
Although the location of the bout is still being finalized, a source told ESPN that it’ll most likely happen in Connecticut as a main event of Showtime Championship Boxing.
Benavidez currently is in the midst of training camp in Big Bear, California, with his team, including strength and conditioning coach Cem Eren.
“We’ve been in training camp for about six or seven weeks already,” Benavidez told ESPN on Tuesday. “We’ve got another six weeks left, so we’ve been working extremely hard.
“I want to give a great performance; that’s why I came to camp a little bit earlier so by the time the camp ends, we’re going to have at least 13-14 weeks done.”
Ellis (18-1, 12 KOs) enters the bout with two straight wins after his majority decision loss to DeAndre Ware in 2019.
Benavidez (23-0, 20 KOs) last entered the ring on Aug. 15, 2020, where he won a one-sided 10th-round TKO victory over Roamer Alexis Angulo. However, he lost his WBC super middleweight title on the scales after being nearly three pounds over the 168-pound limit at the weigh-in.
His goal is to take on the top fighters in the division, such as Caleb Plant.
“I would definitely love that fight, but my mindset right now is I just want any of the top fighters at 168. I feel like I’ve been here,” Benavidez said. “I’ve been two-time world champion, I’ve been in the division and I’ve been doing exactly what I have to do for years and years so I feel like I deserve any of those top fights with those top guys.
“And also, just for the fans. I feel like the fans, we deserve it to the fans to give them the best of the best.”