No path to greatness is easy-it’s always the road less taken that teaches the biggest lessons, especially in boxing. Such is the story of David Benavidez, who is about to enter the ring against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15 at MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. ‘Mexican Monster’ remains undefeated despite facing numerous tough opponents! 

However, he was destined for greatness! Even before he made his professional debut, the Phoenix, Arizona native had sparred with the likes of Gennady Golovkin among others. Yet, there was one aspect of his life that managed to stay under wraps for years. What’s that? Well, it’s his fight against obesity! While appearing in the latest episode of Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru and Henry, the WBC interim super middleweight champion spilled the beans about his fat past!

The decision that would change his fat life!

Speaking to Benavidez, Henry Cejudo brought up their training sessions together when the undefeated boxer was around 15 years old, leaving co-host Kamaru Usman in disbelief. Benavidez alongside his brother Jose Benavidez Jr. has been training from a very young age-no wonder he is taking over the sport so quickly.

Regardless, this prompted Benavidez to reveal one of the more difficult stages of life. In 2009, David’s brother won the Golden Gloves at the age of 16 and went with his father to train alongside Freddie Roach, which meant David was living with his mother, who had separated from David’s father. 

With his life in Phoenix, Arizona, away from training, Benavidez acknowledged, “[I was] a big kid, at the time, I was 170. A year and half [went by] with no training. I already loved eating, one day I’m looking at myself in the mirror, and bro, I was like 260”. Unable to recognize himself and scared out of his wits because of his obesity, he quickly realized “I don’t even know who the f**k I am”.

So, he “made the decision” to turn his life around or continue in this path that, as Benavidez thought, “I’m going to be obese and I’m going to be like ‘My 600 lb life’”. This moment seems to have been the turning point, as it scared the bejesus out of him and he did something about his weight, which, of course, Benavidez handles relatively well these days. However, that doesn’t mean weight hasn’t caused the undefeated boxer problems.

David Benavidez on Caleb Plant calling him fat

The super middleweight champion has managed to lose his belt twice, but not because of his actions in the ring! Instead, in 2018, he tested positive for cocaine, which meant he was stripped off the belt, but more problems were lurking nearby! Even though he earned his belt back by beating Anthony Dirrell in 2019, he lost it again before the fight against Roamer Alexis Angulo because of coming in overweight for the fight.

So, before Benavidez’s fight against Caleb Plant, the Nashville, Tennessee native would call Benavidez “fat boy”. Yet, it didn’t faze Benavidez, who responded to the remark during the first episode of Showtime’s All Access series, saying, “Even Caleb Plant’s talking s**t, saying ‘fat boy this, fat boy that.’ But, at the end of the day, if all these dudes are cut up, they’re all marked up and they don’t have no f**King knockouts”.

David Benavidez is the definition of how hard work and determination can help a fighter overcome the biggest challenges in life. Though he still faces issues because of his weight, his undefeated record suggests he can still make it work. What do you think about Benavidez’s story?