DAVID Benavidez is targeting the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 after producing a dazzling performance to outpoint David Morrell.
‘The Monster Bandera Roja’ secured a comprehensive unanimous decision victory over his light-heavyweight rival in last night’s enthralling main-event at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
In doing so, the 28-year-old showed that he is more than just a ferocious puncher, utilising his footwork to outwork Morrell through large spells of their clash.
Not only that, but Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), overcame a brief scare in the 11th round after he was floored by one of his opponent’s formidable right hooks.
With his victory over Morrell following an equally measured display against former world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk, too, the American has now established himself as perhaps the most fearsome contender at 175lbs.
But in order to reign supreme over his new division, Benavidez must dethrone the winner of Beterbiev, 21-0 (20 KOs), and Bivol’s rematch for the undisputed crown on February 22.
The pair locked horns in a fiercely contested encounter last October, with Beterbiev edging a highly contentious majority decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Yet still, Benavidez’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, firmly believes that Bivol, 23-1 (12 KOs), would pose the most challenges for his unbeaten fighter.
“We [will] fight the winner [of Beterbiev vs Bivol 2],” Lewkowicz told Boxing News. “I hope that the WBC will do the right thing after their fight and proclaim [Benavidez as] the mandatory [challenger].
“Bivol has more technique [than Beterbiev]. He can really fight – and punch. Beterbiev comes forward and is always looking [to land] one punch, and he couldn’t [land] it against Bivol.
“For the legacy of Benavidez, Bivol is the perfect [opponent] because he beat Canelo [Alvarez], and [Benavidez] wants to beat Bivol so that you understand why Canelo didn’t want to fight him.”
Benavidez has, of course, spent much of his career clamouring for a showdown with super-middleweight king Canelo, though his efforts have seemingly amounted to very little.
Nevertheless, the WBC interim titlist should be presented with an opportunity to become a two-division world champion at some point this year.
