By Barry Holbrook: David Avanesyan wants Conor Benn, Keith Thurman, or Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis next following the successful defense of his EBU welterweight title last Saturday night with a first-round knockout win over previously unbeaten Oskari Metz.
Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) knocked Metz (15-1, 5 KOs) down with a big left hook to the head in the first round last Saturday night in their headliner at the Wembley Arena in London, England.
When the 30-year-old Finnish fighter got back to his feet, Avanesyan tagged him at will with powerful shots until the referee stepped in to take a look at him.
After quickly checking the badly hurt Metz’s condition, the referee Giuseppe Quartarone waved it off at 2:00 of the first round.
The victory for Avanesyan, 33, was the fifth successful defense of his EBU 147-lb title and the easiest by far.
Moving forward, #2 WBO, #3 WBC Avanesyan says he’d like to fight for a world title next if possible. Short of that, he says he’d be open to fighting Conor Benn, Keith Thurman, or Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis next.
Unfortunately, you can rule out a fight between Avanesyan and Benn (20-0, 13 KOs) because Conor and his promoter Eddie Hearn aren’t interested in that match-up.
Benn, 25, insists that Avanesyan brings nothing to the table, and he’d prefer to fight former world champions like Adrien Broner or Maurice Hooker.
Currently, Benn is scheduled to fight 34-year-old Chris Van Heerden next month on April 16th. Van Heerden hasn’t fought in two years and hasn’t won a fight in the last three years.
“I believe my next fight is for the world title. I’m ready, and now is my time,” said David Avanesyan to iFL TV in reacting to his first-round knockout win over Oskari Metz last Saturday night.
“Listen, you need to ask my team. I’m ready. I want, and I hope my next fight will be for the world title fight,” said Avanesyan when asked if he’d like to fight Conor Benn, Jaron Ennis, or Vergil Ortiz Jr next.
Former WBA/WBC welterweight champion Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) is another unlikely option, as he’s campaigning for a world title shot against the winner of the April 16th unification clash between IBF/WBC champion Errol Spence Jr. and WBA champion Yordenis Ugas.
“With the WBC, I’m #2. I don’t know, but maybe they need to change me to #1 [ahead of current #1 Vergil Ortiz Jr],” said Avaneysan. “Before this fight, it was between #1 Ortiz and #2 David. I need that fight.
“Vergil Ortiz took a different boxer and a different way [route] with the WBA. Tomorrow, if they call me and say, ‘David, you need to fight this guy for this title, I’ll take,” said Avanesyan.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. pulled out of his fight last Saturday night against Michael McKinson due to a medical issue. When Ortiz returns, his promoters at Golden Boy will likely put him in with a tune-up opponent to make sure he’s 100% before putting him in with one of the champions.
Ortiz is popular enough to where he doesn’t need to take risky fights against guys like Avanesyan to get a title shot.
“Very good fight,” said Avanesyan when asked if he’d like to fight Keith Thurman next. “Listen, I’m #2, and Keith Thurman is #3. It’s possible. I take my job and do my job. I’d go in the ring with Thurman or anybody. I do my job. This is my work.
“I need to win my fights. It doesn’t matter who my opponents are. I’m ready for anybody. I hope,” said Avanesyan when asked if he thinks he can become a world champion.
“I’m going to go back home and see my children and my family, enjoy my time and start my training. I’ll wait for my team to call me and say, ‘David, you need to come back and get ready for a big fight.’
“I’m ready to fight for a world title for the WBC, WBA, WBO, or IBF. I’m ready for a fight. I believe I’ll take a world title. Fight me here,” said Avanesyan.