Ivan Montiel: Good morning.  What’s new?

 

Jose Benavidez Jr.: Yes indeed, my son [Jose Benavidez Jr.] has an upcoming fight against Danny Garcia on July 30th at Barclays Center [in Brooklyn, New York].

 

IM: Barclays Center has love for you guys.

 

JB: It’s Danny Garcia’s home [Garcia is from Philadlephia but has fought in Barclays Center many times], butt it’s an important fight for both Danny Garcia and Jose. It’s a competitive fight for both guys.

 

IM: I must congratulate you on your other son, David’s third-round TKO win over David Lemieux.

 

JB: It was a good fight, a fight that I thought would last longer.  I thought that Lemieux would at least last six or seven rounds. Our discipline and hard work showed, the five months of training camp was worth it.  We are very happy with the support that we received that night.  We are very happy with the [television] ratings and the fans that showed up.  Thanks to all of our fans. That stadium sure was full.  It was spectacular, it was an emotional night.  To see everyone gathered up there with all their support wanting David’s autograph.  We arrived a few weeks early going to several gyms to motivate kids in Phoenix.  We are very happy with the result.

 

IM: Talk to us about David’s next opponent since there’s a Cuban guy who’s talking a lot.

 

JB: Yes the Cuban who’s talking a lot is David Morrell Jr.  He’s said that Benavidez is going to be his bitch.  That he’s going to knock out Benavidez in one round, that my son is afraid of him and that’s why Morrell’s name isn’t being mentioned.  We work very hard, we are not afraid.  We must take on those challenges… I thought that he was talking seriously but after we accepted his challenge, he’s disappeared with [his trainer] Ronnie Shields.  Shields is now protecting him by saying that he’s moving him slowly.  Why move him slowly since Morrell Jr is a [WBA regular] champion.  Why protect a champion?  Champions should be ready for any challenge.  Now this kid has no balls…  He doesn’t want this fight?  Let’s make it happen for November or December.  It’s a fight that everyone wants to see.  If team Morrell is reading, this let’s talk.  Be careful what you wish for.  This kid has disappeared.  We don’t know where to find him?  Where did all that big talk go?  We are ready.  He looked good in his most recent fight [a win over Kalvin Henderson] the same way we looked good against Lemieux.  You have to represent Cuba the same way we represent Mexico.  Mexico versus Cuba.  We have to give the fans the fights they want to see.

 

IM: So do you think this fight will happen?

 

JB: It’s all up to David Morrell Jr. who has to accept so that we can make this fight happen.  His team said that they wanted this fight but now they have disappeared.

 

IM: This reminds me of the last time we spoke and how Jermall Charlo wanted a fight against David but nothing is happening. The same thing...

 

JB: We are now going to call Morrell Jr a duck just like Charlo, Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade.  All those guys are ducks.  These guys are the most wanted by David Benavidez, The Mexican Monster.  Let’s put these guys on milk cartons therefore if someone sees them, they can report them.

 

IM: So tell us about David Morrell Jr’s most recent win over Kalvin Henderson.

 

JB: Morrell Jr did what he was supposed to do.  I think he’s doing very good.  In a few years he will do better.  He will eventually gain experience.  He’s green.  Again he’s had a good amateur background but amateurs and professional boxing is two different things.  He needs to sit down on his punches and keeps his hands low.  Morrell got hit quite a bit.  He needs to keep his hands up.  This past opponent was not at the top level. There’s lots of learning.  He needs to mature as a fighter.  In the future he might be a dangerous fighter but right now my son stops him within five rounds.  

 

IM: What do you think when you hear that Morrell Jr has no defensive skills? I hear that all the time.

 

JB: I think that Morrell does have good defense, he’s just fighting weak opposition.  He’s confident but against Benavidez he won’t keep his hands low.  He will be more alert.  If he keeps his hands low my son will drop him.  Against my son he will learn a lot.  He has to fight better opposition in order to learn.  We need these types of match ups in order to learn.  We also have a lot to learn in order to become better fighters.  One loss is not the end of the world.  The public wants to see these types of fights.

 

IM: Will we see David Benavidez fight one more time this year?

 

JB: We also want to fight one more time this year but nobody wants to face The Mexican Monster.  Once again respect to Lemieux for accepting that fight.  It’s tough trying to get opponents.  Those guys claiming to be the best at 168 yet they don’t want to fight us.  They don’t want to fight us.  Their trainers are protecting them.  These guys disappear.  All they do is talk.  They want to intimidate everyone yet deep down inside they don’t want to fight us.  Morrell Jr, Plant, Charlo and Andrade are big talkers lying to the public.  There are fights that can happen.  They only want a sure a win but we don’t care about a sure win.  We don’t mind taking risks.  We want to make history, to become the best within time.

 

IM: The problem that I have is I hear lots of talk but I see no fighting...

 

JB: All these fighters are social media fighters.  They talk saying that they can beat everyone yet once a contract is sent they refuse to accept.  They claim not to be ready.  

 

IM:  Now before I forget say what’s next for Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela who I noticed was ringside for Benavidez versus Lemieux.

 

JB: Valenzuela has an upcoming fight to take place either on Danny Garcia versus Jose Benavidez Jr if not Andy Ruiz versus Luis Ortiz.  This kid is getting lots of attention.  

 

IM: Does Valenzuela have an opponent?

 

JB: Wel, it’s looking to be a Russian fighter who’s undefeated with an extensive amateur background.  We are working on it.  We have accepted a fight.

 

Speaking of my son David, some want to see him against Bivol.  We are willing to move up to 175 since these ducks at 168 are avoiding us.  We have already sparred with Bivol.  We saw what Bivol did to Canelo [defeating Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision].  We can move up and down divisions.  We want to fight everyone.  Anything can occur.  We don’t fear losing, all we want is to make history.  I am not saying that we will lose but anything can happen in boxing.  We want to give the fans the fights that they want.  We are not like those who make excuses like Charlo and Plant yet look at whom they are about to fight.  Both Charlo and Plant claim to say that Benavidez doesn’t offer anything in return yet look at whom these two are about to fight.  These guys are ducks.  

 

IM: I just hope that Benavidez versus Morrell takes place.

 

JB: It won’t happen. David Morrell Jr is a fraud.  He’s a clown who wants attention.  His trainer saying that this kid needs more experience yet he has a world title.  We are ready.  My respect to all the Cubans.  We are ready for everyone out there.  We are not saying that we are better than everyone.  The next time you guys talk keep in mind that Benavidez is not afraid of anyone.  Thanks again for having me on Boxingtalk.