If David Benavidez is going to get closer to a crack at Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, he's going to have to handle his business against Ronald Ellis first. The undefeated, former two-time 168-pound champion faces Ellis in a WBC super middleweight title eliminator on Saturday night. The bout will take place live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Benavidez has carved out a reputation as being one of boxing's best switch hitters, with knockout power and speed in both hands. However, the 24-year-old has also been his worst own enemy at points, twice having to relinquish the WBC super middleweight title due to his own indiscretions.
In late 2018, Benavidez was stripped of the championship after his urine sample tested positive for cocaine. The Phoenix, Arizona resident returned from a four-month suspension and would eventually regain the WBC strap with a ninth-round TKO of Anthony Dirrell in September 2019.
However, Benavidez got in his own way once again — this time on the scale, weighing 2.8 pounds overweight ahead of his slated title defense against Roamer Alexis Angulo in August 2020. Benavidez had to drop the title prior to the bout and wound up stopping Angulo in 10 rounds out of frustration. Now, Benavidez might be facing a longer path to a title shot, but is prepared to do whatever it takes to get it.
Canelo is unifiying his WBA/WBC super middleweight straps with WBO titleholder Billy Joe Saunders on May 8. If Alvarez is victorious, he'll likely be in a rush to cement a title bout with IBF champ Caleb Plant for a shot at undisputed glory. Whether a title shot comes against Canelo or not, Benavidez can't wait for his shot to become a three-time super middleweight champion.
“I’ve had an amazing camp in Big Bear and this is the strongest I have ever felt, so I’m looking to get an early stoppage against Ellis,” Benavidez said in a PBC press release statement. “I’m glad this is a title eliminator and it’s going to be another step to being a world champion once again.”
Ellis comes into the bout having bounced back from his lone pro loss to DeAndre Ware in February 2019 by piecing together back-to-back wins over Immanuwel Aleem and Matvey Korobov. The December victory over Korobov came via technical knockout after the Russian boxer suffered an Achilles tendon injury and couldn't start the fifth round.
David Benavidez vs. Ronald Ellis fight date, start time
Canelo vs. Yildirim fight date, start time
- Date: Saturday, March 13
- Coverage: 9 p.m. ET/ 2 a.m. GMT
- Benavidez vs. Ellis Main event (approx): 11:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 a.m. GMT
The David Benavidez vs. Ronald Ellis fight card takes place on Saturday, March 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Benavidez and Ellis should make their ring walks at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET, depending on the length of the earlier bouts.
Benavidez vs. Ellis TV channel, live stream
- TV / Stream : Showtime
The Benavidez vs. Ellis card will be on Showtime (both the channel and app), with lightweights Isaac Cruz and Matias Romero clashing in the co-main event and Terrell Gausha vs. Jamontay Clark launching the event in a junior middleweight tilt.
Where is the Benavidez vs. Ellis fight?
The Benavidez-Ellis card will take place live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut in a Premier Boxing Champions event.
David Benavidez record and bio
- Nationality: American
- Age: 24
- Height: 6′ 1½"
- Reach: 77 inches
- Total fights: 23
- Record: 23-0 with 20 knockouts
Ronald Ellis record and bio
- Nationality: American
- Age: 31
- Height: 5′ 10½″
- Reach: 77 inches
- Total fights: 21
- Record: 18-1-2 with 12 knockouts
David Benavidez vs. Ronald Ellis fight card
- David Benavidez vs. Ronald Ellis in WBC super middleweight title eliminator
- Isaac Cruz vs. Matias Romero; Lightweight
- Terrell Gausha vs. Jamontay Clark; Junior middleweight