Inside David Benavidez's cocaine addiction and fractured relationship with father ahead of Anthony Yarde fight

For as long as he can remember, David Benavidez's life has been defined by a singular, unyielding force: his father. Jose Benavidez. 

When I visited his Miami training camp ahead of his fight with Anthony Yarde, it was clear the stakes of the moment had brought that history into sharper focus. 

Benavidez was deep into preparations, but he made time to sit down and reflect on his journey. 'If we're going to talk about where I am now,' he said, 'we have to start from the beginning.'

Benavidez started boxing at three. 'I didn't really have a choice in the matter,' he recalled, remembering the early mornings and miles of running imposed by his father. 'My dad was a madman when it came to training. He pushed me hard from a young age, but he turned me into a soldier. 

'I remember running miles at three years old, thinking, 'What kind of crazy person makes their three-year-old son run outside at four in the morning?' But I'm grateful for it. He built my spirit into that of a warrior, and you can't teach that unless you're thrown into the fire.'

The foundation was not only physical but mental. His father, a man who had faced gangs and danger in his own youth, wanted to build more than a fighter. He wanted a son who could survive the world. 

'I think he pushed me so hard because he wanted to make me tough. This world isn't easy - people will take advantage of you if they can. My dad made me and my brother so tough that sometimes we were even a little too tough for our own good. But that's when you know he did his job. He turned boys into men, and I'm just grateful to him for that.'

The intensity of their relationship eventually created distance. Years of living, training, and competing alongside his father led Benavidez to move to Miami, seeking space to forge his own identity and prove he could succeed independently. 

'Our father-son relationship is like any other,' he said. 'It starts off good, then goes bad, and then comes back around. I had to be mature enough to get past a lot of things with my dad. Not necessarily forgive him, but just move on and be a man. We went through a lot of turmoil, and a lot of it came from the trauma of my childhood - from working so hard, being pushed so much.'

Two or three years ago, the relationship fractured. 'That's part of why I moved to Miami. I wanted to be my own man, to do my own thing, because I'd been with my dad my whole life. I wanted to train with someone else. We didn't talk for a while. He called a lot and I didn't answer. We didn't speak for six months.' 

Eventually, Benavidez reached out. 

'I called him, apologised, and told him, I just want to thank you for making me the man I am today. You made me a monster. That's something nobody can ever take away from me. Father-son relationships are hard, no doubt. But at the end of the day, I wouldn't want it any other way. I wouldn't give the glory to any other man. My dad has been there for me since I was three - raising me, training me, building me into a fighter. He deserves all the credit, and I'm very happy and grateful for him.'

Their partnership is now stronger than ever, but the path to equilibrium was far from smooth. Benavidez reached the pinnacle of boxing at an age when most teenagers are still learning responsibility. 20. The sudden wealth, fame, and pressure that came with being a world champion created a dangerous cocktail.

The first cracks appeared with personal loss. 'Three weeks before my first title fight, my uncle passed away. We were really close,' Benavidez recalled. 'I went on to win the fight, but I was still hurting inside. Honestly, winning my first title didn't feel as good as I thought it would. I was grateful, of course, but it wasn't a completely happy moment for me.'

Grief, combined with the challenges of youth, led him down a dangerous path. 'I was too young when I won my first world title, especially for all the kids listening. If you have bad habits growing up, and then you suddenly get money, it just amplifies those habits. 

'I was too young when I won my first world title, especially for all the kids listening. If you have bad habits growing up, and then you suddenly get money, it just amplifies those habits. 

'For me, that meant hitting rock bottom at a fairly young age. At the time, I was also dealing with cocaine. I was trying to numb the pain. I kept thinking, if I hadn't gone to that training camp, I could have seen my uncle one last time. That really messed me up.'

In 2018, a random drug test revealed the presence of cocaine - a public setback that could have derailed his career. 'I know it was my fault. I made those choices but getting caught was actually the best thing that could have happened to me,' he says. 'It forced me to put my life together.'

The turning point was both spiritual and familial. 'The good thing is that I found God through all of that. My family's never been religious, but my faith now is strong. I feel like once you put God in your life and truly believe He's with you, you can accomplish anything. That wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone through the struggles I did.'

With renewed focus, Benavidez rebuilt himself both inside and outside the ring. He returned stronger, winning another world title against Anthony Dirrell at 22, and reclaimed his place at the top of the super-middleweight division. 

'People don't realise how overwhelming it can be,' he says. 'After years in the gym and school, finally reaching the top and becoming a world champion… I earned half a million dollars at 20. For a kid with drug problems, that's a lot of money. That's why I try to advise younger fighters to stay grounded, find their faith. I pray every day. It keeps me focused and helps me say no to negative things.'

Today, Benavidez has emerged disciplined, focused, and relentless, with his children and faith providing the stability that once eluded him. 'I've seen what drugs and alcohol can do. I don't want to get to 40 and look back and think, 'I could have been better if I'd just handled my demons.' 

'That's why I dedicate myself to my family and my faith. It keeps me grounded, helps me make the right decisions, and allows me to be the best version of myself. Now, I can say I'm happy and comfortable with myself, because I know I'm doing the right things. My faith and my family keep me focused every single day.'

And now, all that discipline and focus is being tested in the ring once more, as he prepares for one of the biggest challenges of his career: Anthony Yarde.

'We're both warriors in there, and I feel like we both have our backs against the wall, both waiting for that next step. This is his third attempt at a world title. Whereas, after this fight, I'm looking to capture even more. It's going to come down to intelligence and stamina.'

He knows Yarde is dangerous. 'Anthony Yarde is coming extremely prepared, and that's why I've been preparing just as hard. I know it's going to be a war, but I've already shown the kind of fighter I am. 

'I'm one of the most accurate fighters in the light heavyweight division. I land around 45 per cent of my punches, which is pretty high. So the intelligence is there, but this fight isn't just about IQ. It's about heart, will, and determination. We both have power, we both have ring smarts - now it's about who can put it all together when it matters.'

Benavidez has studied Yarde closely, noting his speed, timing, and ability to build confidence once he gets into a rhythm. 'That's why I've been preparing so hard,' he says. 

'In his head, he's probably thinking this could be his last shot. That makes him dangerous. I want to show the level I'm on. He gave great fights to Kovalev and Beterbiev, but I want to do even better. I accept all challenges; I never back down from a good fight. That's what makes me who I am, and that's why the fans respect me.

'Look, you've got to be a little bit psycho to do this, but that's what makes it fun,' he laughs. 'Me and Yarde, we're two fighters who wear our hearts on our sleeves and leave everything in the ring. You never really know what's going to happen when two guys like that go at it. It's going to be a fun fight, a real war. These are the kinds of fights I want to give the fans, and trust me - they're in for a treat.'