Team Benavidez made a HUGE mistake

[Fightdoctor]

signing to fight Gvozdyk. Oleksandr is the best opponent to date. He is a silver medal Olympian who has better footwork, timing, boxing IQ. And he will be the same size as David on fight night. He will be stronger than Benavidez and I believe he has the edge in punching power. Benavidez weight-bully strategy won't be effective here. He simply puts up his guard while absorbing punches from much smaller men in order to land his own and walks em down. Gvozdyk by dec or late stoppage is my prediction.

[ironbeard]

While I agree with much of your analysis, I disagree that it was a mistake for Benavidez to sign for this fight. If he intends to compete at LHW, he must be able to get by a 37 year old Gyvozdyk. If he loses, which I do believe is more possible than many perceive it to be, he has no business getting in the ring with Beterbiev and Bivol. This is a serious but calculated risk.

Who has the better footwork, timing, and ring IQ will be determined tonight. Benavidez has fought far high quality opposition since Gvozdyk lost to Beterbiev; prime, fast, quality boxers while The Nail has been inactive and kicking cans.

The Ukrainian has a decent shot but he is not in with a pudgy, short armed journeyman here.

[gilgamesh]

Gvozdyk has been no walkover in the past, but he took an extended layoff, and like ironbeard says, if Benavidez can't get by Gvozdyk he was never gonna make it at the top of this division anyhow.

[margaret thatcher]

i think bena will break gvo , but could take him some time and trouble before it happens

[ironbeard]

They survived it. Benavidez is a better boxer than you give him credit for.

[ironbeard]

i think bena will break gvo , but could take him some time and trouble before it happens

Benavidez certainly did not break Gvozdyk. His boxing skills won this one for him. He won’t get away with what he did tonight v Beterbiev or Bivol. Beterbiev will do to him what Tank just did to Martin and Bivol will lacerate him and probably stop him late. He has to work on his stamina and strength.

[Mexi-Box]

I think Benavidez was about to plant his flag at 175 during the build up. He seemed to have walked that back really fast after this fight and stated he could make 168 easily.

He did not look great and Gvozdyk walked through everything. His power and size is just not there. Gvozdyk looked like a CW compared to Benavidez who looked like a small LHW.

Benavidez needs to get a S&C coach and get a real trainer, not his dad.

[apollo creed]

It looked like a sparring session with Oleksander going light on Benavidez. Buatsi would beat Benavidez.

Bena should shred that flabby-nerdy body and stay at 168.

[coneye]

Not the monster he's been made out to be at the higher weight ,, he won clearly though don't think Canelo will fight him , he'll be too strong Canelo aint gonna push him around

[cormack]

DB looked poor vs Gvodzyck - all the hype of being the next big thing at 175 and also fighting canelo looks doubtful to me .