David Benavidez could be eying a move up to cruiserweight if he gets past formidable light heavyweight contender David Morrell on February 1.
After clamoring for a showdown with Canelo Alvarez for the best part of a year, ‘The Monster Bandera Roja’ has now decided to take his career in a different direction.
Instead, the 27-year-old is looking to become a two-division world champion, hoping to face the winner of Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol’s mooted rematch.
But first, Benavidez must overcome the strength and tenacity of Morrell when they headline an Amazon Prime pay-per-view card at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
Timothy Bradley advises against David Benavidez’s potential move up to cruiserweight
Following their fiercely contested battle for the undisputed light heavyweight crown last month, Beterbiev and Bivol look set to enter a second encounter on February 22.
While an announcement is yet to emerge, it is widely reported that the pair will headline a stacked Riyadh Season card, with Bivol undoubtedly looking to exact his revenge.
Benavidez, meanwhile, has expressed a desire to take on the winner after outpointing former world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in his 175 lb debut earlier this year.
Should he fail to secure the career-defining opportunity, though, the two-time super middleweight champion’s father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Snr, has teased a potential move up to cruiserweight.
However, Hall of Fame inductee Timothy Bradley has suggested that the possible 25 lb leap would be a huge mistake for Benavidez.
“I didn’t like the way David Benavidez looked [in his light heavyweight debut],” Bradley said on ProBox TV.
“He got tired after six rounds, he was winging with that left hook all the time, I mean, he wasn’t as fluid as he was at 168 lbs.
“And his punching power is somewhat depleted, I would say, at 175 lbs. He’s not thumping like he was at 168 [lbs] – when he was a lot bigger than those guys.
“David don’t have the best body, either. At 175 [lbs] he looks flabby, now imagine him at cruiserweight. We talking about a mini Tyson Fury for sure.”
- Read More [David Benavidez wants to take over the 175lbs division – with or without Canelo Alvarez on his record]
David Benavidez could face unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez
While he would, perhaps for the first time in his career, be noticeably undersized at cruiserweight, Benavidez may still find success in the higher division.
His father has, after all, named WBO and WBA titlist Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, a former super middleweight champion himself, as a potential option.
‘Zurdo’ comes off a scintillating performance to outpoint Chris Billam-Smith, leaving the Brit licking his wounds shortly after the punishing display.
Even so, Ramirez would still be a more sensible option for Benavidez than IBF and Ring Magazine champion Jai Opetaia, who is widely regarded as the top dog at 200 lbs.