David Benavidez will be a keen observer when the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch happens next month.
Benavidez has a high stakes light heavyweight fight of his own in February, as he faces WBA regular light heavyweight champion David Morrell at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
A win there could put ‘The Mexican Monster’ in line for a shot against the winner of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol rematch, after the Benavidez-Morrell clash was made a final eliminator for the WBC light heavyweight title, currently held by Beterbiev.
The highly-anticipated rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol comes just four months after they met in their initial undisputed 175lb bout in October.
It was Beterbiev that claimed the win on that occasion, winning by majority decision to add the WBA strap to his WBC, WBO and IBF belts.
Benavidez disagreed with that decision, telling Fight Hub TV that he scored the bout to Bivol.
“I thought Bivol won the fight to be honest with you. It was a close fight, but it couldn’t have gone either way. I thought Bivol won most of the rounds, controlled most of the rounds and his combination punches were better.
“Both those fighters are high calibre fighters, they can make adjustments, I don’t know if it’ll be the same fight or not [in the rematch].”
Despite initial uncertainty, he then needed just two words to declare who comes out on top in the rematch.
“Bivol wins.”
