David Benavidez looks to finally become the 'face of boxing'

TL;DR

David Benavidez aims to establish himself as the 'face of boxing' following a rigorous training regimen at high altitude. The 29-year-old boxer, known as the 'Mexican Monster,' is determined to make his mark in the sport.

Key points

David Benavidez is known as the 'Mexican Monster.'
He is training at Mount Charleston, the highest peak in Southern Nevada.
Benavidez is 29 years old and determined to succeed.
His goal is to become the 'face of boxing.'

David Benavidez

David Benavidez looks to finally become the 'face of boxing'

LAS VEGAS -- David Benavidez, the boxer who Mike Tyson nicknamed the “Mexican Monster,’’ began his climb at more than 8,000 feet above sea level.

It was early April when he and his entourage drove to Mount Charleston, which at nearly 12,000 feet is the highest peak in Southern Nevada.

Benavidez, 29, wore camouflage pants, a black hoodie and the look of determination as he sprinted and walked up the steep, asphalt road.

A two-time world champion, Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) was training for his fight against WBA and WBC cruiserweight champion Gilberto "Zurdo'' Ramirez (48-1 30 KOs) Saturday, May 2 at T-Mobile Arena (PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video). It figures to be the biggest fight of Benavidez’s career, but unlikely to be tougher than a lifetime of training under the direction of his father.

“The first time he put me in a sparring session, I was like two years old,’’ Benavidez said of an encounter that has been ingrained in him from a young age. “The first round, I was crying and I came back to the corner and I told my dad, ‘I don't want to do this no more.’

“He said, "Okay, let me tell you something. I'm going to leave you in there. It's your choice whether you defend yourself or not.’ So very early on in the world, I've learned that there's nobody coming to save you in whatever situation it is. As a man, you have to figure out whatever situation is and you have to be ready to adapt to whatever comes your way.”

Benavidez's father, Jose Benavidez Sr., said the debut took place at a kickboxing event and, even though David Benavidez was almost 3, "he could barely walk.''

The face of boxing?

On Sept. 8, 2017, David Benavidez fought Ronald Gavril of Romania with the vacant WBC super middleweight title at stake. Benavidez won by split decision and at age 20 became the youngest super middleweight champion in boxing history.

Almost a decade later, Benavidez has said he feels like he’s on the cusp of becoming “the face of boxing.’’ He already earned the catchy nickname from Tyson, who was clearly impressed by the punching power and relentlessness of the "Mexican Monster."

So, with Canelo Alvarez having lost to Terence Crawford in September, with Crawford having retired after the fight, and with heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk preparing for a novelty fight at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, it's as good a time as any for the likes of Benavidez to throw his hat into the ring.