Unified cruiserweight world champion David Benavidez has been linked to a venture into the heavyweight scene, and ‘The Mexican Monster’ has now named the two fighters whom he would immediately move into the division for.
A former WBC super-middleweight world champion, Benavidez has relinquished his WBC light-heavyweight world title in order to make the permanent switch into the cruiserweight division, where he currently holds both the WBO and WBA (Super) marbles.
In December, it is expected that Benavidez will collide with reigning WBC champion Michal Cieslak in a unification clash, as he seeks to move one step closer to achieving his goal of becoming a four-belt undisputed world champion.
However, speaking on the Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer, Benavidez admitted that he would be willing to completely abandon those plans if presented with the chance to take on either Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk, despite believing that he will be unable to return to cruiserweight once he moves up.
“The heavyweight division is a strong, strong division, especially with Dubois – he is a great fighter. Then, you have got Hrgovic, so the heavyweight division is on fire right now. Those guys are great guys and great fighters, they are extremely tough fighters.
“But, if I get any opportunity, especially against a Tyson Fury or Usyk, then I am definitely going to take it. I don’t care, I am here to challenge myself and, even in the face of what people might think would be a defeat, I would look at that like a challenge, I can accomplish that.
“They are the ones, Tyson Fury and Usyk. They are the ones that brought me up, so if they honour me and give me the opportunity to fight them, then I would definitely take that chance.
“But, if it is not for Tyson Fury or Usyk, if I don’t get that opportunity then I am just going to do my thing at cruiserweight and build myself up until I think that I am ready to go to heavyweight. I think that, once I get my body tuned to fighting at heavyweight, there is no going back.”
Benavidez-Cieslak is being mooted for Saturday, December 5, in Phoenix, Arizona, with Vergil Ortiz Jr understood to be taking on Keith Thurman in the co-main event of the bill.
