DAVID BENAVIDEZ knows that defeating Anthony Yarde on November 22 will only lead to tougher challenges ahead.
The WBC light-heavyweight champion is set to defend his title for the first time since receiving the belt in April, following Dmitry Bivol’s decision to relinquish it.
Benavidez, who claimed the WBC super-middleweight title eight years ago, aims for a long and successful reign at 175 pounds. However, his path may soon intersect with Artur Beterbiev’s ambition to reclaim a world championship.
The 40-year-old Russian, who lost his undisputed title to Bivol in a rematch six months ago, has opted to fight Deon Nicholson on Benavidez’s undercard rather than sit on the sidelines and wait for a third bout with his rival while Bivol recovers from back surgery.
A potential showdown between Benavidez and Beterbiev looms, especially if both emerge victorious and Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh sees it as a marquee fight worth making.
“I’m in a position where my opportunity is in the form of a freaking Russian monster,” Benavidez told FightHype.
“I can’t say no. Even if they offer me the fight I can’t say no. First thing’s first I’m going to take care of this fight and I’m going to look great in this fight. And if they offer me Artur Beterbiev, then that’s what we’re going to do.
“I think for you to prove your greatness, the greater fighter has to go the other way and take the tougher fights just to prove himself.”
