Unbeaten two-time world champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavídez and former world champion David Lemieux went face-to-face at the final press conference Thursday as they previewed their 12-round showdown for the vacant Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title which headlines live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, May 21 from Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. in a Premier Boxing Champions event. (photos by Esther Lin)

benavidez-lemieux (3)

The press conference also featured hard-hitting Cuban prospect Yoelvis Gómez and Mexico’s Jorge Cota, who meet in the 10-round super welterweight co-main event, and unbeaten prospects Luis “The Twist” Núñez and Jonathan Fierro, who duel in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast opener at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

benavidez-lemieux-2

The 25-year-old Benavídez has twice captured super middleweight gold throughout his career, including becoming the youngest super middleweight champion in boxing history by defeating Ronald Gavril on SHOWTIME in 2017 at just 20 years old. Now he will look to move closer to a third world title against Montreal’s Lemieux, a former middleweight champion who’s won three-straight bouts since moving to 168 pounds full time in late 2019.

benavidez-lemieux (2)

benavidez-lemieux (1)

gomez-cota (1)

gomez-cota (2)

nunez-fierro (2)

nunez-fierro (1)

luis-nunez (1)_1653002728 yoelvis-gomez (2)_1653002728 jonathan-fierro (1) jonathan-fierro (2) jorge-cota_1653002728 luis-nunez (2)_1653002728 yoelvis-gomez (1)_1653002728 jorge-cota (2)_1653002728 jorge-cota (3)_1653002728 david-benavidez (3)_1653002728 david-lemieux (1)_1653002728 david-benavidez (2)_1653002728 david-lemieux (2)_1653002728 david-lemieux (3)_1653002728 david-benavidez_1653002728