Benavidez and Haney Shine in Saudi Arabia: A New Chapter for Boxing
The boxing world vibrated this weekend with a stellar card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where David Benavidez and Devin Haney offered performances that promise to redefine the landscape of the sport. Benavidez, with a demonstration of power, defended his WBC and WBA super middleweight titles, while Haney conquered a new belt in a different division.
Benavidez: The Mexican Monster Seeking the Summit
Benavidez’s victory over Anthony Yarde was a clear message: “The Mexican Monster” is ready to dominate. With a display of precise combinations and constant pressure, Benavidez proved to be a relentless rival, achieving a technical knockout victory in the seventh round.
This triumph, added to Canelo Álvarez’s recent defeat, opens the door for Benavidez to become the new face of Mexican boxing and, eventually, the main figure in the sport worldwide.
“I have news for you. On May 2nd, I will face Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. I will move up to cruiserweight to fight for his titles.”
David Benavidez
With these words, Benavidez aims for a showdown on Cinco de Mayo weekend against a Mexican champion in another weight category, a strategic move that could solidify his rise to stardom.
Haney: A Champion Seeking Respect
Devin Haney, despite criticism of his style, showed a more aggressive side by defeating Brian Norman Jr. by unanimous decision and obtaining the WBO welterweight title. Although he knocked down Norman in the second round, Haney failed to finish his opponent, which raised doubts about his ability to knock out.
Haney, known for his strategic approach and often compared to Floyd Mayweather, seeks victory above all else. His ability to win, although not always in a spectacular manner, allows him to choose the fights he wants, although some question his style.
“In 2024, I lost everything. Everything collapsed. In 2025, I came to get it back. In 2026, I’m going for everything”.
Devin Haney
With the WBO belt in his possession, Haney is positioned to face other champions and unify the division.
Rodriguez and Mason: Rising Young Stars
The billboard also highlighted the talent of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, who unified three super flyweight world titles with a world-class performance against Fernando Martinez. Despite competing in a lower weight category, Rodriguez is emerging as a major star, with an exciting style and a constant pursuit of the knockout.On the other hand, Abdullah Mason, with a unanimous decision victory over Sam Noakes, became the youngest champion in boxing, obtaining the WBO lightweight title. Mason, at only 21 years old, demonstrated his potential, although he still needs to improve his defense. His triumph over Noakes gave him a valuable lesson about the importance of perseverance and adaptation in the ring.These results promise an exciting future for boxing, with new talents emerging and challenging established figures. The night in Riyadh made it clear that the sport is constantly evolving and the spectacle continues.
