DAVID BENAVIDEZ has informed Boxing News he could be prepared to transfer up to light-heavyweight – and for one fight in specific.
The 26-year-old super-middleweight takes on Demetrius Andrade in an enchanting conflict of types this weekend in Las Vegas, the place victory for Benavidez will transfer him nearer to an all-Mexican showdown with 168lbs champion Canelo Alvarez in 2024.
Plans can change in a short time in boxing, nevertheless, and there’s a shared perception throughout the sport that someday the 6ft 2ins, 12-stone puncher may very effectively transfer to 175lbs having campaigned at 168lbs for 10 years.
Business at light-heavyweight appears to be selecting up once more in 2024, with champion Artur Beterbiev going through the British problem of Callum Smith in their rearranged bout on January 13 in Canada. Three weeks earlier, in the meantime, Dmitry Bivol will make his first look in over a yr in opposition to Lyndon Arthur on December 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Should Bivol and Beterbiev come via their respective fights unscathed, the demand for the 2 Russians to face each other will inevitably develop. Benavidez, for his half, says he could be interested in going through the winner.
“I would definitely love to go up and challenge for the belts,” he stated when talking to BN just lately.
“I sparred Bivol, I know him very well. I used to spar him a lot when I was 21-22. I know we can definitely win that fight. It wouldn’t be easy but it’s a fight that can be won, so I definitely would be more than willing to go to 175 and fight for the belts if given the opportunity.”
A win for Benavidez subsequent weekend would flip 2023 into arguably the strongest yr of his profession. Having lacked a win over a excessive calibre fighter in 26 outings, Benavidez thudded his manner to victory in opposition to Caleb Plant in March with a very robust displaying in the second half of the fight.
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