Benavidez Targets Bivol’s Belts, Sees Beterbiev Fight As Fan Favorite

David Benavidez says he needs to face Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol after he challenges Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles within the first quarter of 2026 on Could 2nd.

WBC gentle heavyweight champion Benavidez states that he prefers to face Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) as a result of he holds the IBF, WBA, and WBO 175-lb titles. By beating him, Benavidez (31-0, 15 KOs) would grow to be the undisputed champion and get pushed up increased within the pound-for-pound rankings.

Benavidez says he acknowledges that boxing followers would take pleasure in watching him combat Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) extra as a result of it could be a battle. However he needs to seize the three titles Bivol holds. That will not occur quickly or in any respect if Dmitry loses these belts in his trilogy in opposition to Beterbiev in early 2026.

If Benavidez can’t get both of these fights, he can be higher off staying at cruiserweight as a result of the division lacks huge names. A minimum of by staying at cruiserweight, he can face Jai Opetaia, then transfer as much as heavyweight. He’s received the scale to compete in that weight class. Benavidez says he rehydrated into the 190s for his protection in opposition to Anthony Yarde (27-4, 24 KOs) final Saturday night time on November twenty second.

Benavidez demolished Yarde by a seventh-round knockout of their headliner on Ring IV on the ANB Area in Riyadh.

“At gentle heavyweight, that’s the one factor that is sensible, Bivol and Beterbiev. Then we’ll see who else,” mentioned David Benavidez to iFL TV when requested who he needs to combat after he challenges Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on Could 2, 2026.

Bivol and Beterbiev are late of their careers. These are fights that Benavidez received’t obtain a whole lot of credit score for if he’s victorious in opposition to them. Bivol is 34 and coming off again surgical procedure final August. Beterbiev is 40 and has been coping with harm issues since 2024.

“Only for the title standpoint, I’d say Bivol. However I feel the combat that folks would take pleasure in extra is Beterbiev. I’m right here for the followers. If I inform the followers that I’m going to go to battle, that’s precisely what I’m going to do,” mentioned Benavidez about who he’d want to combat. “I wish to be #1 pound-for-pound. I wish to be in the identical dialog as Usyk.”

It might be higher if Benavidez skipped the fights with Beterbiev, Bivol, and Gilberto Ramirez to go after IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. That will be the higher choice if he needs to be seen in the identical gentle as Usyk.

“I’m snug with taking punches. I didn’t suppose he hit exhausting in any respect,” mentioned Benavidez about Anthony Yarde final Saturday night time. “Yeah, in fact, if he had hit me with a clear shot, it could have been dangerous on my finish. However I don’t suppose he hit exhausting.”

Benavidez received lower over his left eye, taking punches from Yarde within the sixth spherical. He was simply letting Yarde hit him with photographs, so it wasn’t a shock that he ultimately suffered a lower. In Benavidez’s final combat in opposition to David Morrell on February 1, 2025, he appeared like he’d been run over by a steamroller on the finish. His face appeared worse than Morrell’s, who he beat by a 12-round unanimous determination.