David Benavidez’s cruiserweight title win has fans discussing a potential heavyweight move, where he could join Roy Jones Jr as the second fighter to reign at both super-middleweight and heavyweight. Now, Jones has spoken about a possible showdown between Benavidez and unified heavyweight ruler Oleksandr Usyk.
Jones joined Bob Fitzsimmons as the only fighters to have held world titles at both middleweight and heavyweight, but ‘Captain Hook’ also captured super-middleweight honours – which were introduced long after Fitzsimmons’ retirement.
Now, having become the youngest ever super-middleweight champion back in 2017 and going on to claim light-heavyweight and cruiserweight world titles, Benavidez is being linked with a move up to boxing’s glamour division.
Speaking on the All The Smoke Fight podcast, Jones told Benavidez to avoid a fight with cruiserweight threat Jai Opetaia, and to do everything in his power to take on Usyk as soon as possible.
“This is one of the biggest fights of this decade right now. Take it while it is hot, don’t play with ‘em and don’t let ‘em play with you.
“Go up and fight Usyk while it is hot, while it makes sense. You can always come back down and fight Opetaia if you want to, if you lost to Usyk, the Opetaia fight is still there. If you lose to Opetaia, the Usyk fight is gone.
“Be smart about this thing, go and take Usyk while the iron is still hot. If you beat Usyk, you won’t ever have to see Opetaia, unless he comes up to heavyweight.”
In terms of the fight itself, Jones refused to rule out the chances of Benavidez replicating his accomplishment and dethroning the undefeated Ukrainian.
“In a boxing ring, with those 10oz gloves on, anything can happen.”
Whilst a heavyweight move could make history, Benavidez seems to be set on a challenge for the undisputed light-heavyweight crown, against unified champion Dmitry Bivol.
