What a crybaby. Dude is way too emotional for someone in his position.
He called them ridiculous and took it personally that Bivol didn’t play by his rules.
Unlike him, Bivol’s side actually tried to keep it respectful and practical.
What a joke of a "president".
Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
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Sendo Takeshi
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Summer 2025
According to Algieri, he reckons Bivol teased Benavidez, he was always gonna vacate.. but Cus he teased it, the Saudis may have offered him more money
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Ruthless-RKO
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margaret thatcher
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Summer 2025
is it better-be-ev or bet-er-be-ev
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gregregegg
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Summer 2025
I think it’s actualy b-ter-ve-ev
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
Eddie Hearn questions WBC's 'strange' decision on Dmitry Bivol
Eddie Hearn considers the WBC’s decision to force Dmitry Bivol to vacate their light-heavyweight title to be “strange”.
The 34-year-old Bivol won the undisputed title when in February, in his rematch with Artur Beterbiev, he was awarded a majority decision.
That he had lost to his fellow Russian via majority decision, in a similarly competitive and entertaining contest, four months previously has contributed to a decisive third fight for them being widely in demand.
If, as expected, it does take place, however, it will not again be for the undisputed 175lbs title. Bivol vacated the WBC title because of those plans when their preference was for him to fight David Benavidez, who has since been elevated from the status of their interim titlist to WBC champion.
It was earlier in February that Benavidez earned a majority decision over David Morrell of Cuba. Yet it was only in June 2024 that he moved up to light heavyweight – he defeated Ukraine’s Oleksandr Gvozdyk – after a considerably lengthier period as the mandatory challenger to the WBC super-middleweight title held by the celebrated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who was neither stripped of his status by the same organisation nor placed under any pressure to fight the opponent who represented his biggest threat at 168lbs.
That inconsistency was what Matchroom’s Hearn – who continues to promote Bivol and previously promoted Alvarez, including while he remained the undisputed champion at 168lbs despite moving up in weight to fight Bivol – was referring to when he told BS: “It’s a bit strange. When you first win the title normally you get a little bit of grace. It wasn’t like going into that fight, ‘By the way, the winner must fight Benavidez’.
“He won his fight, and then they put the mandatory straight on Dmitry. ‘We have a contract to fight Beterbiev, so we can’t do that.’ ‘Oh, well we’re gonna call purse bids.’ fornicating hell – alright. Then it’s like, ‘He’s been offered $8m – he’s not taking it’. You can’t put that information out…
“I don’t know whether the WBC were under pressure because of the situation with ‘Canelo’, where Benavidez had to wait a long time. But I would have expected the governing body to say, ‘Fair enough – it’s the biggest fight in boxing. It’s the trilogy. We’ll allow it. But the winner has to fight Benavidez’.”
Asked if the WBC’s actions were self-defeating, Hearn responded: “Probably. I get it – as a governing body, you do have to give people opportunities to fight for the belt. But he’s just won that fight with Morrell – it’s not like he’s been waiting for two years.
“It’s the mystery of boxing [that Alvarez wasn’t treated the same as Bivol].”
Callum Smith, another of Matchroom’s light heavyweights, is, according to Hearn, on course to be the 28-year-old Benavidez’s first challenger in the coming months, in Las Vegas.
Smith, 34, convincingly defeated Joshua Buatsi on the undercard of Beterbiev-Bivol II. Benavidez is also the WBA’s lightly regarded “world” champion; Bivol – the WBA’s actions are perhaps similarly self-defeating – is their “super” champion.
“We’re just talking,” said Hearn. “We’re having good conversations with Luis DeCubas [who works with Benavidez]. I think it’s a fight that we can make happen – it’s one of the better fights in the light-heavyweight division.
“Benavidez is coming off the best win of his career; so’s Callum Smith. That fight against Buatsi was incredible. Let’s make it happen – end of the summer, probably in Las Vegas.”
Eddie Hearn considers the WBC’s decision to force Dmitry Bivol to vacate their light-heavyweight title to be “strange”.
The 34-year-old Bivol won the undisputed title when in February, in his rematch with Artur Beterbiev, he was awarded a majority decision.
That he had lost to his fellow Russian via majority decision, in a similarly competitive and entertaining contest, four months previously has contributed to a decisive third fight for them being widely in demand.
If, as expected, it does take place, however, it will not again be for the undisputed 175lbs title. Bivol vacated the WBC title because of those plans when their preference was for him to fight David Benavidez, who has since been elevated from the status of their interim titlist to WBC champion.
It was earlier in February that Benavidez earned a majority decision over David Morrell of Cuba. Yet it was only in June 2024 that he moved up to light heavyweight – he defeated Ukraine’s Oleksandr Gvozdyk – after a considerably lengthier period as the mandatory challenger to the WBC super-middleweight title held by the celebrated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who was neither stripped of his status by the same organisation nor placed under any pressure to fight the opponent who represented his biggest threat at 168lbs.
That inconsistency was what Matchroom’s Hearn – who continues to promote Bivol and previously promoted Alvarez, including while he remained the undisputed champion at 168lbs despite moving up in weight to fight Bivol – was referring to when he told BS: “It’s a bit strange. When you first win the title normally you get a little bit of grace. It wasn’t like going into that fight, ‘By the way, the winner must fight Benavidez’.
“He won his fight, and then they put the mandatory straight on Dmitry. ‘We have a contract to fight Beterbiev, so we can’t do that.’ ‘Oh, well we’re gonna call purse bids.’ fornicating hell – alright. Then it’s like, ‘He’s been offered $8m – he’s not taking it’. You can’t put that information out…
“I don’t know whether the WBC were under pressure because of the situation with ‘Canelo’, where Benavidez had to wait a long time. But I would have expected the governing body to say, ‘Fair enough – it’s the biggest fight in boxing. It’s the trilogy. We’ll allow it. But the winner has to fight Benavidez’.”
Asked if the WBC’s actions were self-defeating, Hearn responded: “Probably. I get it – as a governing body, you do have to give people opportunities to fight for the belt. But he’s just won that fight with Morrell – it’s not like he’s been waiting for two years.
“It’s the mystery of boxing [that Alvarez wasn’t treated the same as Bivol].”
Callum Smith, another of Matchroom’s light heavyweights, is, according to Hearn, on course to be the 28-year-old Benavidez’s first challenger in the coming months, in Las Vegas.
Smith, 34, convincingly defeated Joshua Buatsi on the undercard of Beterbiev-Bivol II. Benavidez is also the WBA’s lightly regarded “world” champion; Bivol – the WBA’s actions are perhaps similarly self-defeating – is their “super” champion.
“We’re just talking,” said Hearn. “We’re having good conversations with Luis DeCubas [who works with Benavidez]. I think it’s a fight that we can make happen – it’s one of the better fights in the light-heavyweight division.
“Benavidez is coming off the best win of his career; so’s Callum Smith. That fight against Buatsi was incredible. Let’s make it happen – end of the summer, probably in Las Vegas.”
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
David Benavidez receives WBA ‘world’ belt; still in line as mandatory challenger
Dmitry Bivol remains burdened with his share of mandatory challengers in waiting.
That list still includes David Benavidez, despite the reigning lineal and unified light heavyweight champion recently vacating his WBC title.
Benavidez is in the unique situation where he owns a full title from one sanctioning body and a secondary version of another. The unbeaten two-division titlist was recently presented with the WBA ‘World’ light heavyweight title, which came shortly after he was upgraded from interim to full WBC titlist.
“I want to thank the WBA for presenting me with my first WBA belt,” Benavidez said of the honor. “It's been a belt that I've been wanting to win for a long time and I'm very grateful and happy to be a WBA champion!”
Bivol, 23-1 (12 KOs), still holds the ‘Super’ version of the belt, along with the Ring, IBF and WBO titles. He was forced to vacate the WBC title for refusal to honor an ordered title consolidation bout versus Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), as he remains tied to a third fight with Artur Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs), which is expected to take place later this year.
At some point, the winner will be ordered to make an overdue IBF mandatory title defense against Germany’s Michael Eifert, 13-1 (5 KOs).
Benavidez remains very much in the mix as well. WBA representatives confirmed to BS that a mandatory title defense will be ordered on the other side of the Bivol-Beterbiev rubber match.
Benavidez became a dual mandatory to the light heavyweight throne after a February 1 unanimous decision win over David Morrell at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 28-year-old Phoenix, Arizona native defended his interim WBC light heavyweight title and claimed Morrell’s WBA ‘World’ title with the victory.
The win came three weeks before Bivol defeated Beterbiev via majority decision to claim the undisputed light heavyweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Beterbiev won in the same fashion four months prior, also in Riyadh, to fully unify the division.
Bivol was given the chance to avenge his lone career defeat, though initially on the condition that the winner face Eifert, since the IBF mandatory was next in the rotation.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman disagreed with that logic and proceeded with his mandatory title consolidation bout, per a ruling from last year’s annual WBC convention.
Bivol and his legal team attempted to protest the decision, but it fell on deaf ears and he ultimately agreed to give up his WBC belt.
However long he gets to keep the rest of his belts will first depend on the outcome of his rubber match with Beterbiev. From there, it will depend on the urgency of the sanctioning bodies to enforce their mandatories.
Meanwhile, plans are being sorted for Benavidez to make a title defense some time this summer. It will be his first as a full WBC light heavyweight titlist, after he previously twice held the WBC super middleweight title.
Dmitry Bivol remains burdened with his share of mandatory challengers in waiting.
That list still includes David Benavidez, despite the reigning lineal and unified light heavyweight champion recently vacating his WBC title.
Benavidez is in the unique situation where he owns a full title from one sanctioning body and a secondary version of another. The unbeaten two-division titlist was recently presented with the WBA ‘World’ light heavyweight title, which came shortly after he was upgraded from interim to full WBC titlist.
“I want to thank the WBA for presenting me with my first WBA belt,” Benavidez said of the honor. “It's been a belt that I've been wanting to win for a long time and I'm very grateful and happy to be a WBA champion!”
Bivol, 23-1 (12 KOs), still holds the ‘Super’ version of the belt, along with the Ring, IBF and WBO titles. He was forced to vacate the WBC title for refusal to honor an ordered title consolidation bout versus Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), as he remains tied to a third fight with Artur Beterbiev, 21-1 (20 KOs), which is expected to take place later this year.
At some point, the winner will be ordered to make an overdue IBF mandatory title defense against Germany’s Michael Eifert, 13-1 (5 KOs).
Benavidez remains very much in the mix as well. WBA representatives confirmed to BS that a mandatory title defense will be ordered on the other side of the Bivol-Beterbiev rubber match.
Benavidez became a dual mandatory to the light heavyweight throne after a February 1 unanimous decision win over David Morrell at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 28-year-old Phoenix, Arizona native defended his interim WBC light heavyweight title and claimed Morrell’s WBA ‘World’ title with the victory.
The win came three weeks before Bivol defeated Beterbiev via majority decision to claim the undisputed light heavyweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Beterbiev won in the same fashion four months prior, also in Riyadh, to fully unify the division.
Bivol was given the chance to avenge his lone career defeat, though initially on the condition that the winner face Eifert, since the IBF mandatory was next in the rotation.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman disagreed with that logic and proceeded with his mandatory title consolidation bout, per a ruling from last year’s annual WBC convention.
Bivol and his legal team attempted to protest the decision, but it fell on deaf ears and he ultimately agreed to give up his WBC belt.
However long he gets to keep the rest of his belts will first depend on the outcome of his rubber match with Beterbiev. From there, it will depend on the urgency of the sanctioning bodies to enforce their mandatories.
Meanwhile, plans are being sorted for Benavidez to make a title defense some time this summer. It will be his first as a full WBC light heavyweight titlist, after he previously twice held the WBC super middleweight title.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
These sanctioning bodies are just tried to get their fees from anywhere now.Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Apr 2025, 06:23 David Benavidez receives WBA ‘world’ belt; still in line as mandatory challenger
Normally, you weren't able to be unified full champion and regular wba champion, if there was already a super champion.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
Benavidez Won’t Rule Out Bivol, Calls Him ‘More Of A Man Of His Word Than Canelo’
David Benavidez wants to believe Dmitry Bivol.
The WBC light heavyweight champ hopes his former sparring partner actually wants to fight him. Maybe it’s wishful thinking because Benavidez realizes he needs Bivol to fully unify the 175-pound crowns.
Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) admitted he got the same aggravating vibes when Bivol vacated the WBC belt that Canelo Alvarez gave up when the Mexican superstar avoided him. Because Bivol fought Artur Beterbiev twice, however, Benavidez is optimistic about getting the opportunity to take The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO titles from the Russian champion once he recovers from back surgery.
“This is kind of like what was going on with Canelo,” Benavidez told The Ring. “But I wouldn’t rule it out. I think Dmitry Bivol is more of a man of his word than Canelo. If they mandate the fight again, then I’m sure it’ll happen. But I don’t really wanna bash him too much because he did have back surgery and he did have two great fights with Artur Beterbiev. So, when he’s ready to fight I’m gonna be right here, waiting for him.”
Phoenix’s Benavidez, who will defend his title against Anthony Yarde on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was elevated from interim champion because Bivol didn’t want to fight him next. Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) gave up his WBC belt seven months ago rather than making a mandated defense versus Benavidez, who won the interim title by unanimously outpointing Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June 2024 in Las Vegas.
Benavidez envisions Bivol facing an opponent less dangerous than him when he returns next year. He hasn’t fought since he beat Beterbiev by majority decision in their 12-round rematch February 22 in Riyadh.
If Bivol basically takes a tune-up bout, Benavidez won’t wait around for his belts.
Benavidez, 28, would prefer to box Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) after he beats Bivol. Assuming the heavily favored Benavidez beats Yarde in the main event of “The Ring IV: Night of the Champions” card, he considers Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KOs), the WBO interim champ, and WBA/WBO cruiserweight champ Gilberto Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) as the most appealing alternatives for his first fight of 2026.
Benavidez is open to moving up to cruiserweight for one fight and returning to light heavyweight if he can’t battle Bivol next.
“The good thing is for me is that we have a lotta options on the table,” Benavidez said. “We have Beterbiev on the table. We have ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on the table. So, it doesn’t really matter to me. If he’s gonna [fight someone else], I would rather fight the best Dmitry Bivol out there, as opposed to fighting a Dmitry Bivol that’s still hurt. I don’t want him to give excuses, like, ‘Oh, I wasn’t a hundred percent ready.’ I wanna beat these fighters at their absolute best, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.”
England’s Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) is The Ring’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight, two spots beneath Benavidez, who is ninth on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list.
David Benavidez wants to believe Dmitry Bivol.
The WBC light heavyweight champ hopes his former sparring partner actually wants to fight him. Maybe it’s wishful thinking because Benavidez realizes he needs Bivol to fully unify the 175-pound crowns.
Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) admitted he got the same aggravating vibes when Bivol vacated the WBC belt that Canelo Alvarez gave up when the Mexican superstar avoided him. Because Bivol fought Artur Beterbiev twice, however, Benavidez is optimistic about getting the opportunity to take The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO titles from the Russian champion once he recovers from back surgery.
“This is kind of like what was going on with Canelo,” Benavidez told The Ring. “But I wouldn’t rule it out. I think Dmitry Bivol is more of a man of his word than Canelo. If they mandate the fight again, then I’m sure it’ll happen. But I don’t really wanna bash him too much because he did have back surgery and he did have two great fights with Artur Beterbiev. So, when he’s ready to fight I’m gonna be right here, waiting for him.”
Phoenix’s Benavidez, who will defend his title against Anthony Yarde on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was elevated from interim champion because Bivol didn’t want to fight him next. Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) gave up his WBC belt seven months ago rather than making a mandated defense versus Benavidez, who won the interim title by unanimously outpointing Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June 2024 in Las Vegas.
Benavidez envisions Bivol facing an opponent less dangerous than him when he returns next year. He hasn’t fought since he beat Beterbiev by majority decision in their 12-round rematch February 22 in Riyadh.
If Bivol basically takes a tune-up bout, Benavidez won’t wait around for his belts.
Benavidez, 28, would prefer to box Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) after he beats Bivol. Assuming the heavily favored Benavidez beats Yarde in the main event of “The Ring IV: Night of the Champions” card, he considers Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KOs), the WBO interim champ, and WBA/WBO cruiserweight champ Gilberto Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) as the most appealing alternatives for his first fight of 2026.
Benavidez is open to moving up to cruiserweight for one fight and returning to light heavyweight if he can’t battle Bivol next.
“The good thing is for me is that we have a lotta options on the table,” Benavidez said. “We have Beterbiev on the table. We have ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on the table. So, it doesn’t really matter to me. If he’s gonna [fight someone else], I would rather fight the best Dmitry Bivol out there, as opposed to fighting a Dmitry Bivol that’s still hurt. I don’t want him to give excuses, like, ‘Oh, I wasn’t a hundred percent ready.’ I wanna beat these fighters at their absolute best, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.”
England’s Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) is The Ring’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight, two spots beneath Benavidez, who is ninth on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
David Benavidez’s promoter: Dmitry Bivol is a ‘Russian Canelo’ if he ducks again
David Benavidez’s impressive career has spanned two weight classes, landed him on the pound-for-pound list, and is likely worthy of the Hall of Fame. Regardless, the lack of a superfight on his record will continue to define his resume alongside his accolades.
One potential superfight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez never happened. Instead, Canelo fought numerous lesser contenders in an exasperating end to his run at super middleweight before finally losing to Terence Crawford. Now, unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is pursuing a trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev and has already dropped one world title rather than defend it against Benavidez.
Instead of waiting around a second time, Benavidez is seizing control of his fate. He has announced his intentions to become synonymous with Cinco de Mayo Weekend, a date traditionally dominated by other superstars in the past, and to fight unified cruiserweight titleholder Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on May 2, 2026.
Benavidez, 31-0 (25 KOs), and his team are also sufficiently emboldened to talk some smack. (One of the many dubious reasons Alvarez offered for his swerving a Benavidez fight was that Benavidez lacked respect for him, leading to a bemused “Mexican Monster” in interviews.)
“After waiting so long for Canelo Alvarez, only to have him avoid us at all costs, David will wait for no one ever again,” Sampson Lewkowicz, Benavidez’s promoter, said in a press release. “We offered Bivol $8 million to face David last year, and he chose to vacate the WBC title a day before a scheduled purse bid rather than face him. [Former champion Artur] Beterbiev is coming off a loss, so other than money, he brings nothing to table. Besides, David wanted the winner of [the] rematch, not the loser. David would stop Beterbiev.”
Benavidez may be ascending to cruiserweight, but these were heavyweight words from his promoter. Benavidez isn’t necessarily done at 175lbs, though.
“The WBA has guaranteed us that David is the mandatory for the Bivol/Beterbiev winner,” Lewkowicz added in the release. “Bivol will have to act like a ‘Russian Canelo’ and vacate another title to avoid facing David. He doesn’t want to fight because he knows when they sparred, David put a beating on him and dropped him. He has zero chance of beating David. That I promise you. He has no power to keep David off him, and he will take a brutal beating!”
Trash talk is an integral piece of the fight game, and Team Benavidez certainly has reason for frustration. With Beterbiev turning 41 in January, few would rather see him fight Bivol for a third time – 24 technically brilliant but antiseptic rounds between those two have clearly established that neither is meaningfully better than the other. Bivol-Benavidez is also more appealing than Ramirez-Benavidez.
Alas, Bivol is likely to take a tune-up fight following back surgery before a rubber match with the ever-aging Beterbiev. That means we’re at least a year out from Benavidez being able to prove any of his promoter’s claims. Until that point or Benavidez meeting his match elsewhere, fighting words will have to prove sustenance enough.
David Benavidez’s impressive career has spanned two weight classes, landed him on the pound-for-pound list, and is likely worthy of the Hall of Fame. Regardless, the lack of a superfight on his record will continue to define his resume alongside his accolades.
One potential superfight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez never happened. Instead, Canelo fought numerous lesser contenders in an exasperating end to his run at super middleweight before finally losing to Terence Crawford. Now, unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is pursuing a trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev and has already dropped one world title rather than defend it against Benavidez.
Instead of waiting around a second time, Benavidez is seizing control of his fate. He has announced his intentions to become synonymous with Cinco de Mayo Weekend, a date traditionally dominated by other superstars in the past, and to fight unified cruiserweight titleholder Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on May 2, 2026.
Benavidez, 31-0 (25 KOs), and his team are also sufficiently emboldened to talk some smack. (One of the many dubious reasons Alvarez offered for his swerving a Benavidez fight was that Benavidez lacked respect for him, leading to a bemused “Mexican Monster” in interviews.)
“After waiting so long for Canelo Alvarez, only to have him avoid us at all costs, David will wait for no one ever again,” Sampson Lewkowicz, Benavidez’s promoter, said in a press release. “We offered Bivol $8 million to face David last year, and he chose to vacate the WBC title a day before a scheduled purse bid rather than face him. [Former champion Artur] Beterbiev is coming off a loss, so other than money, he brings nothing to table. Besides, David wanted the winner of [the] rematch, not the loser. David would stop Beterbiev.”
Benavidez may be ascending to cruiserweight, but these were heavyweight words from his promoter. Benavidez isn’t necessarily done at 175lbs, though.
“The WBA has guaranteed us that David is the mandatory for the Bivol/Beterbiev winner,” Lewkowicz added in the release. “Bivol will have to act like a ‘Russian Canelo’ and vacate another title to avoid facing David. He doesn’t want to fight because he knows when they sparred, David put a beating on him and dropped him. He has zero chance of beating David. That I promise you. He has no power to keep David off him, and he will take a brutal beating!”
Trash talk is an integral piece of the fight game, and Team Benavidez certainly has reason for frustration. With Beterbiev turning 41 in January, few would rather see him fight Bivol for a third time – 24 technically brilliant but antiseptic rounds between those two have clearly established that neither is meaningfully better than the other. Bivol-Benavidez is also more appealing than Ramirez-Benavidez.
Alas, Bivol is likely to take a tune-up fight following back surgery before a rubber match with the ever-aging Beterbiev. That means we’re at least a year out from Benavidez being able to prove any of his promoter’s claims. Until that point or Benavidez meeting his match elsewhere, fighting words will have to prove sustenance enough.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
Benavidez Believes Bivol Will Fight Him Next, Ready To Drop Back Down
David Benavidez is tempted to remain at cruiserweight.
Less stressed without worrying about squeezing down to the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds, Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) feels much more comfortable physically and mentally as his fight with WBA/WBO cruiserweight champ Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez nears. Benavidez believes it would be “dumb,” however, to abandon the profitable, historically significant championship path he created when he moved up from super middleweight to light heavyweight two years ago.
The Phoenix native is also confident that Dmitry Bivol would fight him next, assuming Benavidez beats Ramirez on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena and Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) defeats overmatched mandatory challenger Michael Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs) on May 30 at UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Bivol, who will fight for the first time since he underwent back surgery in August, could also pursue a rubber match with fellow former undisputed light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev following the Eifert fight.
Benavidez is still more optimistic about finally facing Bivol than he was when Bivol gave up the WBC light heavyweight title in April 2025 rather than make a mandated defense against Benavidez. The 29-year-old Benavidez was elevated from interim champion once Bivol vacated that title and still owns it, despite the fact he has moved up 25 pounds to meet Ramirez.
“I definitely do think he’ll fight me,” Benavidez told The Ring regarding Bivol. “If anybody’s really competitive like that, I think it’s Bivol. So, I think he wants the fight. So, I don’t think he’s not gonna take that fight. I think he’s definitely gonna honor that. But we’ll see. At the end of the day, I might think something today and something else might happen tomorrow, so I don’t know. We’re taking it one fight at a time – Zurdo – but definitely I’m planning on getting Bivol right after Zurdo.”
Benavidez, ranked No. 7 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, also wants to test himself against Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs), the only opponent who has beaten Bivol, who is ranked No. 5.
“I put on the matchmaker hat,” Benavidez said, “and the only fights I think are not only good for me, but also for the fans and the sport of boxing, are Bivol and Beterbiev. And I’m not gonna leave that weight class until I get both those fights.”
DraftKings lists Benavidez as a 4-1 favorite over Mexico’s Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs), a former WBO super middleweight titleholder who has lost only a one-sided unanimous decision to Bivol in November 2022 in Abu Dhabi.
Amazon’s Prime Video and DAZN will distribute Ramirez-Benavidez as the main event of a pay-per-view show in the United States ($79.99; 8 p.m. ET). The card is included for subscribers of DAZN’s Ultimate plan, which costs $44.99 per month in the U.S. and £24.99 in the UK.
Becoming champion in a third weight class partially prompted Benavidez’s brief move up in weight, as did the marketability of a fight with Ramirez on “Cinco de Mayo” weekend in Las Vegas. “The Mexican Monster” would feel unfulfilled, though, if he didn’t complete his championship mission against Bivol, who owns The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO titles.
“I have an obligation to myself to go back down,” Benavidez said. “It’d be dumb, an error on my part, if I don’t go back down and try to get the belts. Even if I feel real good now, there’s just too many fights, good fights, to be made at 175 for me to leave that on the table. At the end of the day, I’m gonna need fights, especially if I’m thinking of fighting for the next 10 years.
“So, right there at ’75 I got two or three fights. I can come back up to cruiserweight and maybe go back down. I’m not taking light heavyweight off the table at all. If anything, I’m gonna work even harder to get back down there, to go and win those titles, because that’s already something I’m in position to do. And I don’t like to leave things on the table.”
David Benavidez is tempted to remain at cruiserweight.
Less stressed without worrying about squeezing down to the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds, Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) feels much more comfortable physically and mentally as his fight with WBA/WBO cruiserweight champ Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez nears. Benavidez believes it would be “dumb,” however, to abandon the profitable, historically significant championship path he created when he moved up from super middleweight to light heavyweight two years ago.
The Phoenix native is also confident that Dmitry Bivol would fight him next, assuming Benavidez beats Ramirez on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena and Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) defeats overmatched mandatory challenger Michael Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs) on May 30 at UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Bivol, who will fight for the first time since he underwent back surgery in August, could also pursue a rubber match with fellow former undisputed light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev following the Eifert fight.
Benavidez is still more optimistic about finally facing Bivol than he was when Bivol gave up the WBC light heavyweight title in April 2025 rather than make a mandated defense against Benavidez. The 29-year-old Benavidez was elevated from interim champion once Bivol vacated that title and still owns it, despite the fact he has moved up 25 pounds to meet Ramirez.
“I definitely do think he’ll fight me,” Benavidez told The Ring regarding Bivol. “If anybody’s really competitive like that, I think it’s Bivol. So, I think he wants the fight. So, I don’t think he’s not gonna take that fight. I think he’s definitely gonna honor that. But we’ll see. At the end of the day, I might think something today and something else might happen tomorrow, so I don’t know. We’re taking it one fight at a time – Zurdo – but definitely I’m planning on getting Bivol right after Zurdo.”
Benavidez, ranked No. 7 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, also wants to test himself against Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs), the only opponent who has beaten Bivol, who is ranked No. 5.
“I put on the matchmaker hat,” Benavidez said, “and the only fights I think are not only good for me, but also for the fans and the sport of boxing, are Bivol and Beterbiev. And I’m not gonna leave that weight class until I get both those fights.”
DraftKings lists Benavidez as a 4-1 favorite over Mexico’s Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs), a former WBO super middleweight titleholder who has lost only a one-sided unanimous decision to Bivol in November 2022 in Abu Dhabi.
Amazon’s Prime Video and DAZN will distribute Ramirez-Benavidez as the main event of a pay-per-view show in the United States ($79.99; 8 p.m. ET). The card is included for subscribers of DAZN’s Ultimate plan, which costs $44.99 per month in the U.S. and £24.99 in the UK.
Becoming champion in a third weight class partially prompted Benavidez’s brief move up in weight, as did the marketability of a fight with Ramirez on “Cinco de Mayo” weekend in Las Vegas. “The Mexican Monster” would feel unfulfilled, though, if he didn’t complete his championship mission against Bivol, who owns The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO titles.
“I have an obligation to myself to go back down,” Benavidez said. “It’d be dumb, an error on my part, if I don’t go back down and try to get the belts. Even if I feel real good now, there’s just too many fights, good fights, to be made at 175 for me to leave that on the table. At the end of the day, I’m gonna need fights, especially if I’m thinking of fighting for the next 10 years.
“So, right there at ’75 I got two or three fights. I can come back up to cruiserweight and maybe go back down. I’m not taking light heavyweight off the table at all. If anything, I’m gonna work even harder to get back down there, to go and win those titles, because that’s already something I’m in position to do. And I don’t like to leave things on the table.”
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
Benavidez Doesn’t Think Ramirez Domination Will Scare Off Bivol
David Benavidez battered Gilberto Ramirez so badly Saturday night it resulted in the first knockout defeat of the two-division champion’s career.
Ramirez went the distance with the only other opponent to beat him, the same one who Benavidez wants to fight next. Benavidez doesn’t believe, however, that his dominant performance will make Dmitry Bivol think twice about facing him.
Bivol is expected to beat overmatched mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 30.
“I can’t answer that question,” Benavidez stated during his post-fight press conference following his sixth-round knockout of Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena. “I don’t know what these people are thinking. If they’re real champions, like how they say they are, they’re definitely going to have no problem taking this fight. I’m not trying to be disrespectful to Dmitry Bivol. I don’t think he’s going to get scared away. He’s a great champion.”
Russia’s Bivol owns The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight titles. Benavidez holds the WBC belt because he was elevated from interim champion a year ago, once Bivol declined to make a mandated defense against him.
Phoenix’s Benavidez (31-0, 26 KOs) told The Ring prior to dominating Ramirez and winning the WBA and WBO cruiserweight crowns that he believes Bivol will fight him later this year. Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) will fight for the first time since he had back surgery in August when he faces Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs), a German contender the IBF installed as mandatory challenger at UMCC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Bivol, 35, is ranked No. 5 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, two spots ahead of Benavidez, 29, who moved up 25 pounds to become champion in a third division.
A rubber match with former undisputed light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev also appeals to Bivol. Benavidez hopes to box Bivol and later Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) once he drops back down to the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds for his next fight.
“That’s why we’re here,” Benavidez said. “We’re here to give the best of ourselves and I’m doubted all the time. Everybody always doubts me. But every time I get in this ring and I show myself, what type of fighter I am … it speaks a lot of volume about me and my character. But I’m ready to fight whoever. I think you guys know that a hundred percent already. Wherever it is — whether it’s 200, 175, wherever — I’m just here to test myself and test my greatness.”
Bivol hasn’t boxed since he beat Beterbiev by majority decision in their rematch in February 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He completely outboxed Ramirez on his way to a wide decision win in November 2022 in Abu Dhabi.
Mexico’s Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) went 4-0 in cruiserweight bouts after his loss to Bivol, including impressive championship victories over Arsen Goulamirian and Chris Billam-Smith, which made him an attractive target for Benavidez to face on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas.
David Benavidez battered Gilberto Ramirez so badly Saturday night it resulted in the first knockout defeat of the two-division champion’s career.
Ramirez went the distance with the only other opponent to beat him, the same one who Benavidez wants to fight next. Benavidez doesn’t believe, however, that his dominant performance will make Dmitry Bivol think twice about facing him.
Bivol is expected to beat overmatched mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 30.
“I can’t answer that question,” Benavidez stated during his post-fight press conference following his sixth-round knockout of Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena. “I don’t know what these people are thinking. If they’re real champions, like how they say they are, they’re definitely going to have no problem taking this fight. I’m not trying to be disrespectful to Dmitry Bivol. I don’t think he’s going to get scared away. He’s a great champion.”
Russia’s Bivol owns The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight titles. Benavidez holds the WBC belt because he was elevated from interim champion a year ago, once Bivol declined to make a mandated defense against him.
Phoenix’s Benavidez (31-0, 26 KOs) told The Ring prior to dominating Ramirez and winning the WBA and WBO cruiserweight crowns that he believes Bivol will fight him later this year. Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) will fight for the first time since he had back surgery in August when he faces Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs), a German contender the IBF installed as mandatory challenger at UMCC Arena in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Bivol, 35, is ranked No. 5 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, two spots ahead of Benavidez, 29, who moved up 25 pounds to become champion in a third division.
A rubber match with former undisputed light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev also appeals to Bivol. Benavidez hopes to box Bivol and later Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) once he drops back down to the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds for his next fight.
“That’s why we’re here,” Benavidez said. “We’re here to give the best of ourselves and I’m doubted all the time. Everybody always doubts me. But every time I get in this ring and I show myself, what type of fighter I am … it speaks a lot of volume about me and my character. But I’m ready to fight whoever. I think you guys know that a hundred percent already. Wherever it is — whether it’s 200, 175, wherever — I’m just here to test myself and test my greatness.”
Bivol hasn’t boxed since he beat Beterbiev by majority decision in their rematch in February 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He completely outboxed Ramirez on his way to a wide decision win in November 2022 in Abu Dhabi.
Mexico’s Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) went 4-0 in cruiserweight bouts after his loss to Bivol, including impressive championship victories over Arsen Goulamirian and Chris Billam-Smith, which made him an attractive target for Benavidez to face on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas.
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
Benavidez Confirms Early Talks With Team Bivol
David Benavidez has taken the first steps toward the fight he wants most.
After pummeling Gilberto Ramirez last weekend to become WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the Mexican star immediately called out Dmitry Bivol.
Bivol, the Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBO light heavyweight champion, has business to attend to first. He's returning to the ring against IBF mandatory Michael Eifert on May 30 in Russia following back surgery last August.
However, Benavidez, the current WBC light heavyweight champion, revealed to Sean Zittel on The Porter Way Podcast that discussions have already started behind the scenes.
“We’re already in talks with that," Benavidez said. "But first things first. We gotta see how he comes out, like if he comes out with any injuries. I don’t think he’s gonna have any problems in that type of way. But that fight is definitely happening.”
Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) was ordered by the WBC to fight Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) early last year. However, he opted to vacate the title and pursue a third fight with Artur Beterbiev after splitting two fights with his countryman.
A third fight with Beterbiev might still be on the table. However, Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) believes a showdown between him and Bivol is more compelling. Not only that, he presented an idea he believes would elevate the matchup to even greater heights.
“I was thinking, 'How can we make the fight even bigger?' Maybe we can do a catchweight at 190,” Benavidez said. “We get the cruiserweight belts involved, we get the light heavyweight belts involved, and winner takes all."
If Bivol and/or the powers that be – including the sanctioning bodies – don't embrace that concept?
That would be fine with Benavidez, who has stated he's willing to move all the way back down to 175 after only one fight at cruiserweight. He weighed in at 196¾ for his fight against Ramirez.
Benavidez has said he'd like to headline a card on Mexican Independence Day weekend in mid-September. However, he believes a fight with Bivol would happen later in the year, which would give him plenty of time to whittle his body down to the light heavyweight limit.
“I can still get to 175,” Benavidez said. “The thing is, if I do end up fighting him, it’s probably not gonna be until the end of the year. It won’t be in September. If I get to work now, I can get down to that weight, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing."
Benavidez is ranked No. 5 in The Ring rankings, one spot ahead of Bivol.
David Benavidez has taken the first steps toward the fight he wants most.
After pummeling Gilberto Ramirez last weekend to become WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the Mexican star immediately called out Dmitry Bivol.
Bivol, the Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBO light heavyweight champion, has business to attend to first. He's returning to the ring against IBF mandatory Michael Eifert on May 30 in Russia following back surgery last August.
However, Benavidez, the current WBC light heavyweight champion, revealed to Sean Zittel on The Porter Way Podcast that discussions have already started behind the scenes.
“We’re already in talks with that," Benavidez said. "But first things first. We gotta see how he comes out, like if he comes out with any injuries. I don’t think he’s gonna have any problems in that type of way. But that fight is definitely happening.”
Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) was ordered by the WBC to fight Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) early last year. However, he opted to vacate the title and pursue a third fight with Artur Beterbiev after splitting two fights with his countryman.
A third fight with Beterbiev might still be on the table. However, Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) believes a showdown between him and Bivol is more compelling. Not only that, he presented an idea he believes would elevate the matchup to even greater heights.
“I was thinking, 'How can we make the fight even bigger?' Maybe we can do a catchweight at 190,” Benavidez said. “We get the cruiserweight belts involved, we get the light heavyweight belts involved, and winner takes all."
If Bivol and/or the powers that be – including the sanctioning bodies – don't embrace that concept?
That would be fine with Benavidez, who has stated he's willing to move all the way back down to 175 after only one fight at cruiserweight. He weighed in at 196¾ for his fight against Ramirez.
Benavidez has said he'd like to headline a card on Mexican Independence Day weekend in mid-September. However, he believes a fight with Bivol would happen later in the year, which would give him plenty of time to whittle his body down to the light heavyweight limit.
“I can still get to 175,” Benavidez said. “The thing is, if I do end up fighting him, it’s probably not gonna be until the end of the year. It won’t be in September. If I get to work now, I can get down to that weight, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing."
Benavidez is ranked No. 5 in The Ring rankings, one spot ahead of Bivol.
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
‘Bivol-Benavidez is the fight to make’ says Eddie Hearn
Talks have already taken place between Matchroom and PBC about a possible fight between David Benavidez and Dmitry Bivol.
Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), the world’s leading light-heavyweight, boxes Michael Eifert in Russia later this month in a mandatory defense of his IBF title while Benavidez stepped up to crush unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas on May 2 as he improved to 32-0 (26 KOs).
Bivol faces Eifert at the UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg.
Hearn is working on the Russian show with RCC, World of Boxing and DAZN, but he is keen to make Bivol-Benavidez before the end of the year.
“We’ve been speaking to Luis DeCubas and PBC. We like Bivol-Benavidez,” Hearn said.
“I think it’s a big, big fight. And obviously he’s got his fight May 30th. And Dimtry’s going to want to be in big fights. He’s not going to want to fight guys like Eifert, who’s a mandatory. “But he wants to be in the big fights and I think Bivol-Benavidez is the fight to make.”
Talks have already taken place between Matchroom and PBC about a possible fight between David Benavidez and Dmitry Bivol.
Bivol, 24-1 (12 KOs), the world’s leading light-heavyweight, boxes Michael Eifert in Russia later this month in a mandatory defense of his IBF title while Benavidez stepped up to crush unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas on May 2 as he improved to 32-0 (26 KOs).
Bivol faces Eifert at the UMMC Arena in Ekaterinburg.
Hearn is working on the Russian show with RCC, World of Boxing and DAZN, but he is keen to make Bivol-Benavidez before the end of the year.
“We’ve been speaking to Luis DeCubas and PBC. We like Bivol-Benavidez,” Hearn said.
“I think it’s a big, big fight. And obviously he’s got his fight May 30th. And Dimtry’s going to want to be in big fights. He’s not going to want to fight guys like Eifert, who’s a mandatory. “But he wants to be in the big fights and I think Bivol-Benavidez is the fight to make.”
Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
If Benavidez goes back to Light Heavy for the fight, Bivol wins. If Bivol comes up to Cruiserweight for the fight, Benavidez wins.
Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
Benavidez at 175/190 properly prepared against Bivol
Huge fight
Huge fight
Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
My concern with David Benavidez is his lack of discipline and long-term difficulty making weight throughout his career.
Examples include: the Ronald Gavril fights, losing his WBC title after a failed drug test, and then losing that title again a couple of years later after failing to make the 168lbs weight limit by a wide margin.
He also turned down a fight with Jermall Charlo because he could not make the weight.
Last October, Benavidez said he could not get down to 168lbs for fights with Terence Crawford or Canelo.
Then, yesterday, Benavidez said he would prefer to fight Bivol at 190lbs and would only be “open” to the idea of dropping back down to 175lbs if necessary (assuming the sanctioning bodies reject his catchweight idea).
Benavidez is a talented fighter, but he is simply too big and would likely be badly weight-drained if had to compete at 168lbs or 175lbs to face the likes of Canelo or Bivol.
Bivol outboxes Benavidez (in a competitive fight) at 175lbs.
I would prefer to see a peak fully-nourished version of Benavidez face Jai Opetaia at 200lbs.
Examples include: the Ronald Gavril fights, losing his WBC title after a failed drug test, and then losing that title again a couple of years later after failing to make the 168lbs weight limit by a wide margin.
He also turned down a fight with Jermall Charlo because he could not make the weight.
Last October, Benavidez said he could not get down to 168lbs for fights with Terence Crawford or Canelo.
Then, yesterday, Benavidez said he would prefer to fight Bivol at 190lbs and would only be “open” to the idea of dropping back down to 175lbs if necessary (assuming the sanctioning bodies reject his catchweight idea).
Benavidez is a talented fighter, but he is simply too big and would likely be badly weight-drained if had to compete at 168lbs or 175lbs to face the likes of Canelo or Bivol.
Bivol outboxes Benavidez (in a competitive fight) at 175lbs.
I would prefer to see a peak fully-nourished version of Benavidez face Jai Opetaia at 200lbs.
Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
Bivol beats and outclasses Benavides at any weight. He should be undefeated as he was robbed in his first fight with Beterbiev. Just facts, I admire his skills and abilities, but I’d hardly consider myself a fan of his. Bivol is exceptionally skilled, athletic and fit.
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Thomastearns
- Super Lightweight
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Re: Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?
Well, if this is going to happen, it needs to happen soon as the injury carrying 35 year old Bivol is not getting any younger or any less shop worn.
Benavidez at 29 is just about at his peak.
Bivol is obviously the better boxer by far, but time is against him if he wants to fight hungry upcoming sharks like Benavidez.
In the modern business like world of elite boxing it has long been considered reckless to take on such unnecessarily risky bouts like this one where the younger man will dictate the pace.
Canelo v Benavidez would have been a great fight a few years back, but Saul, same age as Bivol would have had to have been kicking and screaming to the first to the bank snd then to the ring to comply.
Nevertheless, Bivol v Benavidez is still a fight that all true boxing fans will want to see.
I'd expect Bivol to beat Benavidez, but then I also expected Wardley to beat Dubois.
As we saw there, the younger man just had too much raw energy for his older brave opponent.
Benavidez at 29 is just about at his peak.
Bivol is obviously the better boxer by far, but time is against him if he wants to fight hungry upcoming sharks like Benavidez.
In the modern business like world of elite boxing it has long been considered reckless to take on such unnecessarily risky bouts like this one where the younger man will dictate the pace.
Canelo v Benavidez would have been a great fight a few years back, but Saul, same age as Bivol would have had to have been kicking and screaming to the first to the bank snd then to the ring to comply.
Nevertheless, Bivol v Benavidez is still a fight that all true boxing fans will want to see.
I'd expect Bivol to beat Benavidez, but then I also expected Wardley to beat Dubois.
As we saw there, the younger man just had too much raw energy for his older brave opponent.