David Benavidez and his team are showing some signs now that they may go in a different direction with it all happening in boxing. Learn more.
Benavidez had a solid win at cruiserweight last weekend to become a three-weight world champion.
For us he’s pound for pound number three in the world currently.
That said, he’s yet to prove himself as the best boxer at light-heavyweight (175 pounds). He hasn’t fought Dmitry Bivol there yet.
Benavidez’ team have now said they won’t wait around for Bivol. They are right too.
Bivol if he wants to make the fight will have to reach out to Benavidez soon as he can fight other big names in boxing.
Namely Jai Opetaia at cruiserweight or he could go after some heavyweights as well.
Here’s why Benavidez doesn’t need Bivol certainly as much as Bivol needs Benavidez:
- Benavidez is now a three-division champ. He added WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles vs Ramirez.
- He’s 32-0 with 26 KOs. He became the first to stop Ramirez.
- His power works at 200 lbs. He doesn’t need to drop to 175 to prove himself.
- Bivol is booked until May 30. He must face Michael Eifert to keep his IBF belt.
- Bivol is 35 and post-back surgery. A fight likely waits until 2027.
- Bivol wants the Beterbiev trilogy. That’s a guaranteed $10M+ payday.
- Beating Benavidez risks that payday. A loss kills Bivol’s Beterbiev leverage.
- Benavidez has cruiserweight options. Opetaia and even Usyk were floated.
- He already did what Bivol did. Bivol beat Ramirez in 2022. Benavidez just stopped him.
- Benavidez won’t wait again. Promoter: “He will not wait like [he did for] Canelo”.
Moreover, Benavidez now basically took over the Cinco De Mayo boxing date as well with the knockout of ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez last weekend.
He is by far the A-side in talks with Bivol.
Who knows what fights either will be in this year but both remain big names in pound for pound for now at least.
