David Benavidez’s journey in boxing has been defined as much by triumphs as by trials. Beneath the explosive power and undefeated aura lies a story shaped by a complicated relationship with his father and a period of substance abuse, experiences that have molded him into the fighter he is today.
As he prepares for one of the toughest challenges of his career, a fight against Anthony Yarde, his past looms large in both caution and motivation.
From the very beginning, Benavidez’s father, Jose, played an overwhelming role in his life. He started training David at just three years old, subjecting him to grueling early-morning runs and relentless discipline.
“He pushed me hard… he turned me into a soldier,” Benavidez recalled, reflecting on how his father’s intense training forged his physical toughness and mental resilience. Jose had faced his own struggles growing up, and he wanted more than just a skilled boxer; he wanted a son who could endure life’s challenges.
Yet the intensity of their bond eventually created distance. Years of living and training together led Benavidez to move to Miami, seeking independence and the chance to prove he could succeed on his own. “Our father-son relationship is like any other,” he said. “It starts off good, then goes bad, and then comes back around.”
At one point, they went six months without speaking. Reconciliation came later, after a heartfelt apology. “I just want to thank you for making me the man I am today… You made me a monster,” he told his father, recognizing both the hardship and the invaluable lessons of his upbringing.
Rising, falling, and rebuilding
Despite early success, Benavidez’s youth exposed him to pressures he was ill-prepared for. At just 20, he became a world champion, but personal grief struck hard: the death of his uncle shortly before his first title fight left him emotionally unmoored.
To cope, he turned to cocaine, a choice that would later surface in a failed drug test in 2018. The setback was public and potentially career-ending, but Benavidez sees it as a turning point. “It forced me to put my life together,” he said, crediting the experience with helping him find faith in God and a renewed focus on his career.
Rebuilding wasn’t easy, but it was transformative. By 22, he reclaimed a world title with a victory over Anthony Dirrell, demonstrating the resilience and skill his father had instilled years earlier. Today, he attributes his discipline and clarity to faith and family.
Daily prayer, dedication to his children, and the lessons from his past keep him grounded and focused, providing a stability that was missing during his early rise.
Now, facing Anthony Yarde, Benavidez prepares with intensity and precision. He acknowledges Yarde’s strength and experience, noting that intelligence and strategy will be as critical as power and endurance.
“It’s going to come down to heart, will, and determination,” he says. Those qualities, shaped by his father, his struggles, and his faith, have prepared him to leave everything in the ring – a testament to the fighter he has become.
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