David Benavidez is being urged to face a highly-ranked light heavyweight contender in his next fight.
The 28-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona currently holds the WBC Interim and WBA Regular titles at 175lbs, with his most recent victory coming against the previously unbeaten David Morrell at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 1.
Benavidez survived a controversial eleventh round knockdown to be declared the winner via unanimous decision after 12 exciting rounds, as he handed Morrell the first defeat of his professional tenure and extended his own record to 30-0 with 24 stoppages.
With ‘The Monster’ now setting his sights on his next outing, one fighter who has emerged as a potential opponent for the 28-year-old is newly-crowned WBO Interim champion Callum Smith, who defeated Joshua Buatsi in Riyadh on February 22.
In an early Fight Of The Year contender, former WBA Super-Middleweight World Champion Smith gave Buatsi undoubtedly the toughest night of his campaign, throwing some thunderous shots throughout to stun his countryman on multiple occasions. The sixth round in particular provided all-out-action, with both fighters trading huge punches in what has been described as one of the best rounds of 2025 so far.
Smith made the move up to light heavyweight in January 2024 to challenge former undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev, suffering a seventh round stoppage at the hands of the formidable Russian who had held the WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight titles at the time.
The 34-year-old from Liverpool could now be in line to receive a mandatory title shot at the newly-crowned undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who beat Beterbiev via majority decision in their thrilling rematch on February 22.
However, a trilogy fight for the Russians seems the most likely, leaving Benavidez and Smith looking for dance partners and fans immediately took to social media following Smith’s win to call for the match-up.
