West Coast Prospect of the Month- Jose Benavidez By: Mark E. Ortega

Still only 21 years of age, Phoenix welterweight Jose Benavidez has dealt with a lot of adversity already in his young professional career.

Benavidez only stepped through the ropes once in 2013 due to a recurring injury to his right hand. In his last fight of 2012, Benavidez was stunned by veteran Pavel Miranda but remained on his feet and fought his way to a decision victory.

On Mar. 29, Benavidez will face a veteran in Javier Castro, who has been in with names like Antonio Diaz and Mike Dallas Jr. in previous outings. Benavidez is taking a step up considering his lack of recent in-ring work and should be able to give fans an idea where he is at based on his performance.

Benavidez was a blue chip signing when Top Rank nabbed him in 2010. He’s perhaps got the best potential of any Arizonian since Michael Carbajal was a top draw there in the late 1980s and early 1990s. If Benavidez can become even half the draw that the Olympian and multi-division world champion Carbajal was, it will have been a great investment for the Las Vegas-based Top Rank.

Benavidez is a fighter that Top Rank should take their time with. Most fighters his age are still in the early stages and four round point of their career whereas this will be the third eight-round bout of Benavidez’s. Top Rank and their experienced matchmakers are probably the best in the business at knowing when to push their guys and when to slow things down with them, so if Benavidez is getting a tough fight like Castro, they must think he is ready to step it up.

Benavidez’s fight will be televised live on UniMas SoloBoxeo. Hopefully, the young fighter gets off to a great start in 2014 and isn’t mired by injuries and inactivity the way he was in 2013.

East Coast Prospect of the Month: Toka Kahn-Clary By: Mark E. Ortega

Liberian born junior lightweight southpaw Toka Kahn Clary is quickly developing into one of the brightest young fighters in America. The Providence, RI native has become a favorite of Top Rank undercards on the East Coast, where he's built a solid following.

Kahn-Clary (10-0, 7 knockouts) closed his 2013 by turning in a gusty performance against fellow unbeaten Ramsey Luna at Boardwalk Hall. In that fight, Kahn-Clary boxed beautifully for three rounds before Luna put him on the canvas in the fourth. For Kahn-Clary, it was his first battle of adversity, and he passed it with flying colors.

Instead of trying to survive, Kahn-Clary went to work and produced two exciting toe-to-toe rounds with an opponent who had never lost before. On Mar. 29, Kahn-Clary faces a similarly experienced opponent, once beaten Chris Lopez. Their bout takes place at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas and is another six round bout for the 21-year old Kahn-Clary.

Kahn-Clary also has Top Rank's experienced matchmakers as an advantage. Bruce Trampler and Brad Goodman are the best in the business at moving young fighters along and gauging when they are ready for a step up.

“Toka Kahn is just getting better and better with each and every fight,” Goodman said of the fighter. “He's explosive out of his southpaw style.”

“Toka is a top prospect who is the real deal,” said Trampler. “He throws a lot of punches and hits hard.”

Kahn Clary is trained by Peter Manfredo Sr., who trains his son Peter and also helped guide Jesse Brinkley to a world title shot a few years back.

“Toka is the best I've seen at our gym in 35 years—and I've seen a lot of fighters,” said Kahn-Clary. “He has speed, skill, tremendous combinations, and a big heart.”

For Kahn-Clary, he's still a year or two away from a meaningful fight. But Top Rank is high on the kid and he is definitely one to keep your eye on.