Artur Beterbiev vs. David Benavidez - Who wins?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Beterbiev blasts Benavidez for backing out of planned bout

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev isn’t mincing any words when it comes to David Benavidez.

Beterbiev says he was supposed to square off against Benavidez before “The Mexican Monster” opted instead to move up to the cruiserweight division to stop Gilberto Ramirez inside six rounds last month for the WBA and WBO titles.

“He had a fight with Anthony Yarde [on November 22], and I agreed to fight him after that,” Beterbiev told Match TV in Russian.

“His team apparently didn't expect me to agree so quickly, so they immediately changed their mind and chose Ramirez. That was a year ago. Generally, this has become the norm in boxing – sometimes I'll box, sometimes I won't, choosing opponents, I like this one, I don't like that one. I have a different mentality. That's foreign to me.”

Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) was supposed to be featured on the Benavidez-Yarde undercard as part of the “The Ring IV: Night of The Champions” show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but his planned fight against Deon Nicholson never came to be.

The 41-year-old hasn’t fought since suffering a majority decision loss to Dmitry Bivol in February of last year. Beterbiev won their first fight by unanimous decision in October 2024 to collect all of the crowns at 175 pounds.

Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) has since taken a share of the titles in the weight class and currently holds the WBC belt.

"Benavidez is the kind of guy who talks a lot more than he does,” Beterbiev said. “But it must be said that he's being handled very skillfully. He's already a world champion in two weight classes. But his boxing is dirty, and some of his victories are certainly questionable.”

[joshj909]

Beterbiev could move up and face Benavidez if needed. It's a great fight.

[Les Norton]

Beterbiev has also been sitting on his arse for 15-16 months after coming off a loss, maybe promoters feel he’s not entitled to the fight?
I’d love to see it though, would be sone brutally heavy shots exchanged there. Both chins would be checked.

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘That’s a great fight for the public’: David Benavidez says Artur Beterbiev actively seeking cruiserweight showdown

David Benavidez calls out all the top names around his weight class.

David Benavidez chats it up with The Ring to talk about his attempts to make some big fights and his willingness to move up in weight to make it happen. Here, Benavidez says he’s targeting fights against Jai Opetaia, Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury as he looks to cement his legacy in the sport. Here’s some of what he had to say below.

Benavidez on his attempts to fight Bivol
“We been trying to make that fight with Bivol for a long, long time. It looks like he’s not willing to take any of these big fights. He still hasn’t fought since he fought Artur Beterbiev. So, I don’t know what’s going on with Bivol, what his plans are, but I have my intentions set on this cruiserweight division. There’s a lot of great fights here…I want the fight versus me and Jai Opetaia, Cinco de Mayo weekend in T-Mobile Arena.”

On if he could potentially move up to heavyweight
“The heavyweight division is a division I definitely got my eye on, too. We got two great fights at cruiserweight before we get up there first. We got Jai Opetaia, then I think Beterbiev is going to come up to cruiserweight. And then after that I definitely want to get in a fight with Usyk and I seen Gypsy King mention my name. So, right now I’m only here to test myself and to try to be great. So if we can get in a fight with Usyk and Tyson Fury, that’s something I’m willing to do.”

On the potential to fight Beterbiev at cruiserweight
“Beterbiev has definitely reached out to our team and he’s been actively trying to make that fight. So, we’re going to give him exactly what he wants. I respect Beterbiev. He’s like 45-years-old, so the fact that he’s calling me out, I got a lot of respect for him.

“That’s a great fight for the public. Two of the most violent fights you could possibly make happen, so I’m all for it.”

On the toughest fight for him between Bivol, Beterbiev, and Opetaia
“I’m being 100% honest with you guys. The hardest challenge out of any of those fighters is Bivol. Bivol is all around a great fighter. He has great movement, he has great fundamentals, great defense. So, that in my opinion would be the hardest fight out of all of them but they’re all good fights.”

[joshj909]

make this fight. Maybe a bit late for Beterbiev as he's no longer favourite but he still had a lot left on him the last time we saw him.

[golden_labrador]

Beterbiev could move up and face Benavidez if needed. It's a great fight.

cruiserweight Bert is a scary thought, even at the ripe old age of 50 or whatever he is now. let's get it made, Turki

[Eolaithe]

Benavidez has already clearly stated that he has no plans to compete at 175lbs ever again.

Beterbiev will be 42 years of age the next time he competes. And he’s isn’t a cruiserweight, at least he’s not big enough to be one.

I don’t see the point in this poll.

[JC]

He fought at 200lbs in the amateurs.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Benavidez has already clearly stated that he has no plans to compete at 175lbs ever again.

Beterbiev will be 42 years of age the next time he competes. And he’s isn’t a cruiserweight, at least he’s not big enough to be one.

I don’t see the point in this poll.

There’s no poll.

But there has been some talk the right might get made.

So.. let’s talk about it.

[joshj909]

Benavidez has also only had 1 fight a cruiserweight. He was a super middleweight 2 years ago. Beterbiev on the other hand is a career light heavyweight who was fighting at 200 lbs in the amateurs, which includes a win over Michael Hunter. He lost to Usyk a few times but who didn't? This isn't Beterbiev going up against a heavyweight who has dropped down.

[gregregegg]

Bert is old. And Bert is inactive. But this would still be a pick em fight.

Think of what benevidez does well. Swarms flashy combos… will he wanna do that when one Bert counter could end it all? Hard to say.

I’d pick prime Bert at any weight vs benevidez, but in his 40s with low activey benivedeze a slight favorite I guess. (Bert could turn up great but he could also turn up bad)

[MightyWarrior]

I’ve wanted this fight for years, and for years I’ve had it as the best fight you could make in boxing: two monsters and a guaranteed classic.

It’s diabolical the fight has never been made and yes the Russian is getting old, so i’d have DB as a slight favourite, but it’s still the best fight around - no one wants to see a 3rd f*cking Bivol fight.

Hope they can get moving and get it done before Artur is 75 years old. In fact I think that’s the team Benavidez tactic, letting this guy get old enough to make him favourite

[gregregegg]

If fighting at a 200lb limit, in let’s say Jan 1st 2027… who is the best cruiser in the world (ifff)

Jai, benivedez, beterbieve, Bivol, Gadzhimagomedov, Usyk….

I am very very confident it’s one of them. Putting them in order for me…

Jai, benivedez, bivol, bert, gadz, Usyk… but honestly, there isn’t an order id be confident of.

[PRINCEKOOL]

You have to back the more technically skilled fighter in Artur Beterbiev 'I think most people in the boxing community would agree, that Artur Beterbiev is a better fighter than David Benevidez'.

Note: The only reason why I could see people backing Benavidez to win 'is because Artur Beterbiev is in the latter stages of his career, and has been dealing with injuries continually affecting his training'.

But if this fight is made at Cruiserweight 'that extra weight could aid in increasing the durability and recovery capacities of Artur Beterbiev during this stage of his career. I think it would still be a competitive fight in 2026/2027' etc.

[Taansend]

I'm not sure we'll be seeing Beterbiev again..

I hope we do. But I doubt it.