Tim Bradley expressed his desire to see David Benavidez move up to the 175-pound weight class to challenge WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in his upcoming bout. Even though Benavidez, 26, is a large fighter, it’s believed that he will not be at a size disadvantage if he goes up to 175 pounds to face Bivol for the title.
Bradley asserts that Canelo Alvarez is not interested in facing Benavidez and won’t be pressured into it, despite public demand. He believes that with only three fights remaining in his career, Canelo will likely choose his opponents carefully, possibly facing Jaime Munguia in May and an undecided opponent in September.
Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) is viewed as an ideal opponent for Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) as he continues to gain popularity. Benavidez has even spoken about sparring with Bivol and is rumored to have come out on top.
The main hurdle preventing a Benavidez-Bivol fight is Bivol’s upcoming title defense against Lyndon Arthur next month. If he emerges victorious, Bivol will likely seek a match against IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev next.
Benavidez would need to offer Bivol a significant purse to entice him to face him instead of Beterbiev following his defense against Artur on December 23, provided a sizable offer can be made by PBC.
Challenges for Benavidez
“I wouldn’t mind seeing him go up to 175 and face Bivol. He’s a dangerous guy too,” Tim Bradley expressed his thoughts on David Benavidez’s next move. The possibility of a fight between the two fighters is being considered.
Bradley mentioned hearing about the sparring session between Benavidez and Bivol and how Benavidez allegedly injured him during the session. However, he cautioned against Benavidez becoming overconfident as the dynamics in an actual match may differ, especially without a significant size advantage.
Benavidez, a fighter who has teased a move up in weight throughout his career, may face challenges when pitted against opponents in his weight class. Tim Bradley emphasized the need for caution, citing a similar situation with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Chris Algieri also expressed his reservations about Benavidez moving up to 175, suggesting that he would face similar challenges as he did at 168.
Despite these concerns, Benavidez has shown the ability to compete effectively at 168 without suffering from a significant weight cut, making him an anomaly in the sport.
Putting pressure on Canelo
Algieri proposed potential opponents for Benavidez to put pressure on Canelo, suggesting fighters like David Morrell or John Ryder. Algieri indicated that facing an aging opponent like Ryder, who is the same age as Demetrius Andrade, may not be the ideal choice, and that Benavidez should target a younger opponent.
Bradley reiterated that Canelo is not obligated to face Benavidez if he doesn’t want to, highlighting the potential difficulty in securing a match against him.
Overall, the conversation around Benavidez’s next move and potential opponents continues, with various perspectives on how best to challenge Canelo and elevate his career.
