David Benavidez’s efficiency final Saturday evening in his debut at 175 in opposition to Oleksandr Gvozdyk confirmed that he has a restricted future at mild heavyweight.
The Inevitable Fall
The battle confirmed that Benavidez lacks the pop in his punch at 175 to be one of many main gamers within the weight class and can be uncovered as soon as he will get in in opposition to one of many champions or if he faces David Morrell.
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) says he desires to return to the 168-lb division, which is a good suggestion. Nonetheless, he plans on returning to 175 to battle for the winner of the undisputed mild heavyweight championship between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.
The cash Benavidez can get from the Saudis for combating the Bivol-Beterbiev winner can be big for the ‘Mexican Monster’ and a salve for his wounded pleasure when he’s crushed and uncovered.
Skipping Steps, Ignoring Actuality
Ideally, Benavidez ought to show himself earlier than combating for the undisputed by dealing with Morrell, Willy Hutchinson, Anthony Yarde, or Joshua Buatsi. Even combating the loser of the Bivol vs. Beterbiev battle could be a wonderful manner for Benavidez to show that he belongs combating for the undisputed at 175.
The way in which that Benavidez is getting a quick title shot at mild heavyweight sends a foul message to followers and different fighters as a result of he’s not earned it.
Boxing is a enterprise, although, and Benavidez is being vaulted to the highest at 175 with out being made to show himself as a result of a battle between him and the Bivol-Beterbiev battle will generate profits. It has nothing to do with true competitors.
If this have been the NFL, Benavidez would want to undergo the playoffs and beat more and more higher competitors to get to the Tremendous Bowl. That’s not occurring right here. Benavidez has crushed an older fighter, Gvozdyk, simply off of a four-year retirement, and now he will get to battle for the undisputed at 175.
The Bleak Actuality
Benavidez has no probability in opposition to the winner of the Bivol vs. Benavidez battle and even the loser. He’ll take his loss and lots of thousands and thousands and return to the 168-lb division afterward to proceed to hound Canelo Alvarez.
“I don’t assume he beats Bivol, however a battle in opposition to Beterbiev could be very thrilling. I simply noticed Bivol placed on a superb efficiency on the 5v5 card the place he regarded so good, so modern, so slick,” stated analyst Gareth A. Davies to Charlie Parson’s YouTube channel on David Benavidez’s means to battle at 175.
Gareth’s feedback about Benavidez being over his head in opposition to Bivol are in step with the boxing public’s. They witnessed how poor David regarded in opposition to Gvozdyk and don’t see him as having any probability in opposition to the WBA 175-lb champion or Beterbiev.
“I feel Bivol is a really arduous battle for Benavidez,” stated Gareth. “I feel Beterbiev is a greater battle for him stylistically, however he’s [Benavidez] a giant man. He cuts it at 175, nevertheless it’s at 168, a 12-stone tremendous middleweight, the place I feel he’s on the peak of his powers.”
IBF/WBC/WBO mild heavyweight champion Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) could be a fair tougher battle for Benavidez than Bivol, as he could be dealing with an enormous puncher that will be hitting him arduous all evening. Gvozdyk didn’t load up on his punches, however he nonetheless had Benavdez’s face regarded like a practice wreck afterward.
“Once more, stylistically, it really works,” stated Gareth when requested a couple of battle between Benavidez and David Morrell. “The factor about Benavidez is, he’s a crowd-pleaser. The factor about Benavidez is he desires to go in there and battle.”
Benavidez isn’t going to battle Morrell as a result of it’s too dangerous. The Cuban would seemingly weed him out, lacking his alternative to face the Beterbiev vs. Bivol winner for giant cash in Saudi Arabia.
Benavidez will play it secure now that he’s obligatory for that battle, taking a gentle, stay-busy match at 168 whereas he waits for the smoke to clear.
“He’ll battle anyone, and the opposite factor about Benavidez is that he’ll be very disillusioned on the finish of his profession with out Saul Canelo Alvarez on the opposite facet, win or lose that battle,” stated Gareth.
