David Benavidez and David Lemieux have signed contracts for a 168-pound bout slated for springtime on Showtime, a source told ESPN, an event that likely will land in Benavidez’s native Phoenix.

The battle of former champions could move Benavidez one step closer to a shot at Canelo Alvarez.

The volume-punching Benavidez, ESPN’s No. 2 super middleweight, has twice held a 168-pound title and has never lost it in the ring. Instead, the 25-year-old was stripped once after testing positive for cocaine and a second time after failing to make weight.

Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) was slated to face Jose Uzcategui last month but the fight was scrapped after Uzcategui tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Kyrone Davis stepped in on short notice and was stopped in the seventh round by Benavidez.

Lemieux (43-4, 35 KOs) promises to offer far more resistance.

The former middleweight champion is 3-0 since moving to 168 pounds and is ranked No. 8 by ESPN, but he has yet to fight anyone approaching the top 10. Now, the 32-year-old will be installed as an underdog against Benavidez in what shapes up as an all-action fight.

The Montreal native was one of the biggest punchers in boxing when he campaigned at 160 pounds. That includes a spectacular KO of Curtis Stevens in 2017. During that middleweight run, he also scored a stoppage victory over Gabe Rosado but suffered a one-sided TKO loss to Gennady Golovkin and a comprehensive decision defeat to Billy Joe Saunders.

ESPN Boxing