David Benavidez has long been the one chasing big-name opponents but now he finds himself in the sights of a cruiserweight world champion.
‘El Monstruo’ is a two-time super middleweight champion who has made no secret of his desire to face Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for a third shot at the titles.
Canelo ignored plenty of pressure from fans and even, it was rumoured, his own networks to fight Benavidez in May, instead opting to take on Jaime Munguia, a fight which he comfortably won on points.
As a result, the 27-year-old has grown tired of waiting for his shot and moved up to light-heavyweight. This Saturday he will take on former 175lb champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in his first contest in the new division.
After that, it seems Benavidez will have options as the current IBF cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia, fresh off a tough rematch win over Mairis Briedis, has welcomed a fight with Benavidez should he move up yet another division. Speaking to Fight Hub, Opetaia called him on in no uncertain terms.
“If he wants to come up to cruiserweight bring it on.
Cruiserweight is my division, you know, until I move out of it. Come and get it.”
News has now emerged that once Benavidez’s fight this weekend is over he will have to make a choice between remaining the mandatory WBC contender to Alvarez’s super middleweight belt or if he’ll instead decide to take up a mandatory slot for the winner of the undisputed light-heavyweight undisputed fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in October.
