David Benavidez’s career continues to go from strength to strength, and the fighter continues to show that he can be ranked among the best pound-for-pound boxers today.
And while the possibility of facing Mexican Saul Canelo Alvarez looks increasingly distant, the “Mexican Monster” received a good alternative from Shakur Stevenson, current WBC lightweight champion, reported essentiallysports.com.
In his last fight, Benavidez won by unanimous decision over David Morrell earlier this year, and the expectation was that the WBC interim light heavyweight champion could face the winner of the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
However, after Bivol got his revenge last month and won the undisputed title, the conversation seems to have shifted towards a possible trilogy between the two, which again leaves Benavidez without potential opponents in the light heavyweight division.
Benavidez has expressed interest in fighting WBO interim light heavyweight champion Callum Smith, who is also seeking a bout against Bivol.
Shakur Stevenson sets Benavidez’s agenda
With Benavidez in a dilemma, Stevenson commented on his X account what might be the best plans for the “Mexican Monster” in the coming months.
“Benavidez vs Bivol is up there with the best fights that can be made in the sport of boxing!” Stevenson wrote on X.
The Newark native comes off a ninth-round knockout of Josh Padley, his last-minute replacement, in the preliminary bout of the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch.
And just as Benavidez is chasing a fight against Canelo, Stevenson wants a fight against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, but without success.
Billboards are complicated by the interests of each organisation
The World Boxing Council has reaffirmed that Dmitry Bivol must defend his light heavyweight title against David Benavidez, after he consolidated his mandatory position with a victory over David Morrell, defending his WBC interim title and winning the WBA regular title.
However, despite the decision, complications persist.
The IBF ordered some time ago that Bivol face Michael Eifert, the mandatory challenger for the IBF title, which has created a scheduling conflict.
The situation reflects Benavidez’s struggles at super middleweight, where he has been denied a mandatory fight against Canelo on several occasions.
If the WBC’s decision is overlooked, Benavidez can wait for his chance or move up to cruiserweight to challenge Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. With the sanctioning bodies and the Riyadh season involved, Bivol’s next fight remains uncertain despite the WBC’s stance.
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