Phoenix product Jose Benavidez Jr. to fight in main event on Showtime July 30

One of the most accomplished boxers to ever come out of Phoenix is back in a main event for the first time in almost four years. 

José Benavidez Jr., who was raised in and fought out of Phoenix until recently relocating to the Seattle area, takes on Danny Garcia of Philadelphia in a Showtime Boxing main event on July 30 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

It's a super welterweight (154 pounds) 12-round fight with Garcia (36-3, 21 knockouts) moving up in weight class. Benavidez (27-1-1, 18 KOs) fought at 154 to a draw with Francisco Emanuel Torres of Argentina in the co-main event of a card at Phoenix's Footprint Center in November 2021. 

That fight, in which Benavidez was the more willing participant while Torres threw punches and moved away, preceded his younger brother David's win in the main event. Since then David returned to Phoenix for another fight, which he won on May 7 to capture the WBC interim super middleweight title. 

In the days leading up to that fight, José's father, José Benavidez Sr., said a fight was soon to be announced involving his older son. And on Wednesday, Benavidez Jr. vs. Garcia was confirmed. 

Benavidez doesn't have the resumé that Garcia has, but his only loss was to the still undefeated Terence Crawford in a WBO welterweight title bout in 2018.  Benavidez didn't fight again for more than three years, focusing on his family. 

Benavidez made his pro debut in 2010 and has held the WBA world super lightweight interim title. 

"This is a Mexico vs. Puerto Rico matchup and both of us have something to prove," Benavídez said. "It’s going to be a great fight for the fans. I feel strong and I know I will end this one on fight night. I’m bigger and stronger than he is and come July 30, he will see the difference in power between us."

Garcia, 34, has been a world champion in two divisions. He has fought and beaten some of the best to ever put on gloves in those weight classes, including Erik Morales, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Lucas Matthysse, Lamont Peterson, Paulie Malignaggi and Robert Guerrero. At welterweight he has lost close fights to big names in Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter and unbeaten unified champion Errol Spence Jr.

The unanimous decision loss to Spence was on Dec. 5, 2020, and Garcia hasn't fought since then. 

Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.