David Benavidez will likely be a wonderful substitute for IBF/WBC/WBO mild heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev if a knee damage prevents him from dealing with WBA champ Dmitry Bivol on October twelfth in Riyadh.
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) captured the WBC interim mild heavyweight title in his debut at 175 final Saturday evening, beating former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk by a one-sided twelve-round unanimous determination in Las Vegas.
There’s the likelihood that 39-year-old Beterbiev won’t be able to rapidly return to the ring in October, provided that he’s getting back from a ruptured meniscus damage.
The Ultimate Substitute
Given his age availability and ambition to develop into undisputed at 175, Benavidez can be the proper substitute opponent to face Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) on October twelfth for his WBA belt.
It will be a battle that wouldn’t have all 4 belts at stake, however it might be an fascinating one for the boxing public, permitting His Excellency to avoid wasting the October twelfth date.
Benavidez has talked about his sparring success with Bivol up to now, so he shouldn’t have any points with stepping in to face him on October twelfth except his poor efficiency towards Gvozdyk has brought about him to alter his thoughts about combating for the belts at 175.
A Hasty Retreat
After the battle final Saturday, Benavidez advised the media that he deliberate on returning to the 168 to proceed pursuing a battle towards undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
Many individuals noticed that as a sign that Benavidez acknowledged that he didn’t possess the facility or technical prowess to compete at 175. So he slinked again right down to 168, the place he may take pleasure in a measurement benefit towards the much less gifted fighters in that division.
“He fought Oleksandr Gvozdyk, a Ukrainian and an excellent fighter. Clearly, it was Benavidez’s first battle at 175. Benavidez received the job executed,” mentioned net host Ade Oladipo to the talkSport Boxing YouTube channel, speaking about David Benavidez’s debut at 175 final Saturday evening on June fifteenth in Las Vegas.
“A few scorecards, I believed, had been very extensive. One was 119-109. It wasn’t that kind of battle. Benavidez did say he’s not staying at 175. He’s coming again right down to 168. He’s clearly chasing the Canelo battle, which it doesn’t appear like he’s going to get any time quickly.”
Ade is placing it flippantly when he mentions the extensive scores two of the judges turned in for final Saturday evening’s Benavidez-Gvozdyk conflict.
The scores the judges turned didn’t match the battle, which noticed Benavidez gasoline out after six rounds and seem to lose the final six rounds. That ought to have made the battle a draw, however not with these judges.
“Would it not not be a good suggestion to remain at 175? [IBF, WBC, & WBO light heavyweight champion Artur] Beterbiev is approaching 40. There’s an opportunity he won’t make the Bivol battle due to that [knee] damage. Benavidez may slide straight in and battle Bivol, and we’d all be proud of that battle,” mentioned Ade.
A Reluctant Substitute?
It will be a good suggestion to make use of Benavidez as a possible substitute to step in if Beterbiev’s knee fails him throughout camp, however does he have the boldness to take a battle with Bivol? I don’t suppose he does, and neither do many followers.
Benavidez’s retreat to 168 alerts that he doesn’t really feel he can win towards Bivol or Beterbiev. I feel he’ll nonetheless ultimately take the battle towards the winner, however solely due to the big payday he’ll get from the Saudis for combating.
It’s uncertain that Benavidez will conform to step in and face Bivol at 175 for only one belt on the road at 168 as a substitute of all 4, and the payday not being as monumental. The battle can be like an eliminator for the massive one towards Beterbiev, however it takes braveness on Benavidez’s half to conform to it.
Benavidez doesn’t seem like assured that he’ll be victorious, and the battle will likely be in Saudi Arabia, not in Las Vegas like his match towards Gvozdyk.