David Benavídez Will Battle Former Champion José Uzcátegui in a WBC Super Middleweight Title Eliminator

Unbeaten Two-Time World Champion David Benavídez Will Battle Former Champion José Uzcátegui in a WBC Tremendous Middleweight Title Eliminator Saturday, August 28 Dwell on SHOWTIME from Footprint Middle in Phoenix in a

Premier Boxing Champions Occasion

Thrilling Contender José Benavídez Makes Lengthy-Awaited Return Towards Argentina’s Francisco Emanuel Torres in Co-Most important Occasion

Unbeaten Tremendous Bantamweight Contender Carlos Castro Faces Former Title Challenger Óscar Escandón To Open Telecast at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

PHOENIX (July 29, 2021) – Unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavídez will sq. off towards former champion José Uzcátegui in a WBC Tremendous Middleweight title eliminator as Benavídez returns to his hometown of Phoenix for the primary time in six years within the SHOWTIME major occasion on Saturday, August 28 in a Premier Boxing Champions occasion from Footprint Middle – dwelling of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and can characteristic the much-awaited return of longtime contender José Benavídez, the older brother of David Benavídez, dealing with Argentina’s Francisco Emanuel Torres within the 10-round tremendous welterweight co-main occasion. Kicking off the telecast is undefeated contender Carlos Castro taking up former title challenger Óscar Escandón in a 10-round tremendous bantamweight bout. The Benavídez brothers and Castro hail from Phoenix and have their sights set on impressing their hometown followers.

“I’m glad to be bringing David ‘El Bandera Roja’ Benavidez again to his hometown to struggle after so a few years away,” mentioned Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “It’ll be a sensational welcome social gathering for him and all of the followers.”

Nonetheless simply 24-years-old, Benavídez (24-0, 21 KOs) enters this struggle having knocked out his final 4 opponents, together with a September 2019 knockout of two-time tremendous middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell. Most lately, he earned stoppage victories over Roamer Alexis Angulo in August 2020 and Ronald Ellis in March of this 12 months. Benavídez is skilled by his father José Sr., alongside his brother and former title challenger, José Jr. In 2017, he grew to become the youngest tremendous middleweight champion in boxing historical past by defeating Ronald Gavril on SHOWTIME at simply 20 years previous. Representing his native Phoenix, Ariz., Benavídez went from a 15-year-old prodigy sparring with Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin, to world title contender with a 10-fight knockout streak from 2015 by means of 2017, together with a highlight-reel knockout of Rogelio Medina with a seven-punch mixture that earned him his first title alternative.

“I’m tremendous excited to struggle in entrance of my hometown followers,” mentioned Benavídez. “It’s a dream come true for me to return again dwelling as a two-time world champion. I’m coaching for Uzcategui like he’s a world champ as a result of he has a whole lot of expertise and he’s a hungry fighter. I do know that he wants this win, however I gained’t let that occur. I’m staying devoted and motivated to win on August 28 on SHOWTIME and I wish to look spectacular doing it as a way to get even greater and higher fights sooner or later.”

Born in Venezuela and combating out of Tijuana, Mexico, Uzcátegui (31-4, 26 KOs) captured a 168-pound world title in March of 2018 by stopping veteran contender Andre Dirrell after eight rounds. The 30-year-old put himself in place to struggle for a title with four-straight stoppage victories from 2015 by means of 2016, together with a win over then-unbeaten Julius Jackson. Since shedding the title to unbeaten champion Caleb Plant in January 2019, Uzcátegui has rebounded to win three of his final 4 fights, together with knockout wins in 2021 over Jaime Hernandez Lopez and Josue Obando.

“I’m excited to be again on the massive stage for this struggle,” mentioned Uzcátegui. “I do know what I’m up towards with Benavídez. He’s a fantastic fighter, and that’s my largest motivation. That is going to be a battle and I can’t wait to offer the individuals a fantastic struggle. Each of us come to brawl, so that is going to be a traditional on August 28.”

“I’m actually excited to be again within the ring after being out for some time,” mentioned Benavidez. “I really feel extra mature, motivated and stronger than ever. Preventing alongside my brother and in my hometown, is mostly a dream come true. I’m actually wanting ahead to creating an amazing comeback. It doesn’t matter who they put in entrance of me, I assure that I’m going to take them out. Nobody goes to wish to miss this night time, as a result of me and my brother are bringing the fireworks.”

A local of boxing-rich Buenos Aires, Argentina, Torres (17-3, 5 KOs) enters this struggle the winner of his final 9 contests relationship again to 2018. The 31-year-old will struggle within the U.S. for the third time on August 28, having scored stateside victories over Cleotis Pendarvis in August 2020 and Louis Hernandez in February of this 12 months. Torres most lately gained a unanimous choice over Alexi Rivera in June as he prepares for his hardest struggle thus far towards Benavídez.

“I’m very pumped up for this struggle,” mentioned Torres. “I wish to thank my complete workforce for this chance to take part in such an necessary struggle. It is a nice likelihood for me to go to the following stage towards a fantastic fighter who’s had an distinctive profession. I’ll work very onerous to get the victory on August 14 and lift excessive the flag of Argentina.”

“I’m very grateful for this chance to struggle a wonderful opponent in Escandón,” mentioned Castro. “I’m very motivated to placed on a fantastic efficiency in entrance of my hometown followers. On August 28, I’m going to be able to showcase all of my expertise and onerous work within the ring so I depart with my hand raised.”

A local of Ibague, Colombia, Escandón (26-5, 18 KOs) has confronted a slew of high contenders and champions together with featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. and tremendous bantamweight champion Brandon Figueroa, plus hard-hitting contender Tugstsogt Nyambayar. Escandón captured an interim title in 2016 when he knocked out Robinson Castellanos to earn his world title shot towards Russell. Most lately, Escandón scored a first-round knockout over beforehand unbeaten contender Jhack Tepora in December of 2019.