Jose Benavidez Jr vs James Hope
18-year-old prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. (10-0, 9 KOs) is up next in a six-rounder at 140 lbs. He’s up against James Hope (6-7-1, 4 KOs), who climbed into the ring wearing what appeared to be a pharaoh headpiece made for by a younger relative for a school project.
Round 1: Mostly a tentative affair, with Benavidez using his range to control the flow but not landing much beyond a couple nice straight rights. Hope looks game and landed a nice straight right of his own, though he likely doesn’t pack the same type of punch as the prospect.
Announcer just called Benavidez patient and that’s exactly how he looked in the first round. Likely a result of his more than 300 amateur bouts. Hope has presented some small problems but doesn’t seem to have enough to actually threaten the kid from Phoenix.
Round 2: Hope comes out swinging a little wildly but appears to land at least one big right. His style is unorthodox and appears to be confusing Jose at times. Now Hope is showboating a bit and Jose responds by snapping him in the chin. Neither fighter is doing much.
Jose lands a nice right to the body that appears to stagger Hope a bit. Best work of the fight from either fighter. Jose starting to land heavy shots. He senses Hope is hurt and he’s advancing. Bell saves Hope in the second but he may not last another round.
Round 3: Hope seems to have steadied himself. Jose snapping that jab more effectively now and landing it more frequently. Hope tends to keep his hands down which is not a recipe for success against a taller and stronger opponent. Benavidez now landing from a distance with ease, jabs followed by straight rights and hooks to the body.
Jose snapped Hope’s head back with a straight right and has him against the ropes covered up. Jose hammers Hope with heavy shots to the body but then backs up and lets him out. Bell sounds for the round.
Round 4: Again the round starts slowly. If there’s any criticism to be made of Benavidez it’s that his patience could also be viewed as caution; throwing more punches against inferior opposition might help build his following more quickly. When he does throw his punches are accurate and leave an impression.
Quiet round and not really the most impressive for Jose. He lands another good right but he did appear to be on autopilot at times. If he wants to become a name fighter he needs to take a little more risk and go for the early stoppage.
Round 5: The outcome is not at all in doubt but Hope is showing some heart by continuing to throw. Jose seems a lot more determined and is showing more purpose with his blows. It’s probably his corner goaded him to go for the KO.
Jose backs Hope into the corner and begins punishing him, showing off a heavy left hook to the body. Ref calls the fight in the 5th round, TKO for Jose Benavidez Jr.
Jose certainly has a lot of upside but between him and Pier Olivier Cote the latter was clearly more impressive at 140 lbs. tonight. Will keep an eye on both going forward.