David Benavidez has emerged as one of the most exciting fighters in boxing today, following in the footsteps of legends while carving out his own path in the sport. Surprisingly, when asked to name the fighter he considered truly unbeatable in his prime, Benavidez did not select iconic names like Floyd Mayweather or Mike Tyson. Instead, he pointed to another legendary figure.
The 28-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona turned professional in 2013 and has since captured world titles at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight. Benavidez held the WBC super-middleweight championship twice between 2017 and 2020, defeating top contenders such as Anthony Dirrell, Caleb Plant, and Demetrius Andrade during his reign at 168 pounds.
‘The Mexican Monster’ moved up to light-heavyweight last August, where he claimed the WBC interim light-heavyweight title by defeating Oleksandr Gvozdyk. He successfully defended that belt against David Morrell in February before being elevated to full WBC world champion after Dmitry Bivol vacated the title in April. Benavidez is set to make the first defense of his crown later this year against Britain’s Anthony Yarde at the ANB Arena in Riyadh on Saturday, November 22.
Who did Benavidez consider truly unbeatable in their prime?
While Benavidez’s own career continues to gain momentum, he singled out former four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. as the fighter who was untouchable at his peak. Speaking to ESNEWS, Benavidez was clear in his admiration for Jones’ unique abilities.
“To be honest with you, I feel like in his prime Roy Jones was untouched by anybody just because of his speed, athleticism, everything was just different, you know. People say God-given talent, I feel like Roy Jones at his physical prime, he had God-given talent,” Benavidez said.
The legacy of Roy Jones Jr.
At the height of his powers, Roy Jones Jr. was widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the world. During the 1990s, he defeated some of boxing’s elite, including Mike McCallum, James Toney, and Bernard Hopkins.
Jones spent most of his career competing at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight before making a successful move up to heavyweight in 2003, where he captured the WBA world heavyweight title by dethroning John Ruiz.
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Recently, Jones has been linked to a highly anticipated showdown with Floyd Mayweather after a heated social media rivalry, fueling speculation about one of boxing’s most intriguing potential matchups.