David Benavidez is regarded as one of the most entertaining boxers in the sport right now.
Having previously been a two-time super-middleweight world champion, Benavidez moved up to 175lbs last year and held the WBC interim light heavyweight title after wins over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell.
That appeared to set up a clash with Dmitry Bivol, but after becoming undisputed the Russian chose to vacate the WBC belt in order to target a trilogy contest with Artur Beterbiev, meaning that Benavidez was upgraded to full champion.
Benavidez’s recent victories has seen him ranked in many people’s pound-for-pound list, but ‘The Mexican Monster’ has named who he deems to be number one.
Speaking to 560 WQAM Miami, Benavidez declared that he views two-weight undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk as the best around.
“The number one thing that makes Usyk the best fighter in the world, in my opinion, is his heart… his movement, his skill, his IQ, that just sets him apart… He’s fought the best… His experience and his IQ and his heart just sets him apart from everybody.”
Benavidez then went even further with his praise whilst talking to Fighthype, stating that Usyk is the best ever.
I have tremendous respect for Usyk, he’s the greatest of all time.”
After becoming undisputed at cruiserweight, Usyk moved up to heavyweight and repeated the feat in the banner division after claiming wins over the likes of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
He vacated the IBF belt in order to fulfil a rematch with Fury, leading to Daniel Dubois to claim that title. The two men will now meet on July 19 to crown a new undisputed champion, nearly two years on from their first meeting which Usyk won by ninth round stoppage.
