Are we still talking about Benavidez? If so, your talking strong! He's absolutely a great fighter, but not ready to defeat a great champion. Unfortunately, he has 2 of those in his current division, and he'll lose to both. He was rocked several times against DM and hit the canvas late, off balance or not! He had to fight from both feet and couldn't put the kid away. If you think he'll be going forward all night against AB, then your mistaken. Bivol is one of the smartest, if not the smartest fighter in the world. And he couldn't find the angles or even escape the pressure AB applied. And AB lands cleaner harder shots than Morrell. And I think Bivol would actually give Benavidez the business more effectively than AB would. My prediction is we'll see Benavidez struggling to cut the weight and get back to 168 very soon! With at least 1 loss on his record.
Benaividez stock went up as he showed he can beat up an even bigger man, southpaw talented boxer who can punch. DB is multitalented not a one trick pony. There is a reason Canelo is avoiding him.
I can imagine him beating both Bivol and Beterbiev who won’t enjoy facing him. Benaividez is defensively responsible.
Not surprised you feel that way, dozen guys on here want to have Beterbiev’s baby. But to me he’s very beatable, as I thought Bivol beat him last time, and will beat him more decisively this time. So I don’t think we will get to see it either way. Now as far as Bivol goes, yes, the Benavidez that the thread is about, and all the posts in it are about, will beat Bivol.
I think Bivol would box his ears off and Beterbiev would smash him if he stood in front of him like Benavidez usually does. I think most would agree with that assessment.
No issue with Saudi bling, I thought it was refreshing to see a boxing show about boxing and with a good main event that lived up to expectations. I agree, with Saudis the wilder, fury AJ fights would have possibly been made at the right time but boxing has been going well without the Saudis. I just find that often there is too much praise for a certain promotion only (Saudis) when a lot of emphasis is on the show, which often has lots to do with appealing to non boxing fans. Singers, celebs etc. and being uk focused. Good fights are possible with or without the Saudis and a lot of smoke is blown up their behinds.
Morrell was good for a man with 11 pro fights,stock dropped not for me.Morrell can get a lot better & will have learned from this fight,be keeping an eye on how he goes from here.
This is a bad take. Benavidez is definitely a championship caliber fighter but the notion he's some beast is...based on what? He beat Plant who little Canelo stopped. He beat an old former 154/160 champion at 168. He beat a 37 year old retired LHW champ in 2024 who was the goods in 2018/2019. And now he beat an 11 fight decorated amateur who had all he could handle in a showcase fight his last match out (against Hot Rod). Yes, any resume can be picked apart and Benavidez is no different. And Benavidez has done pretty much all he could to get Canelo in the ring. ...Even with all that in mind I still dont see why or how a big following has developed. Tank Davis and Anthony Joshua also turned pro in 2013 and both of them are much further along than Benavidez. I'm still impressed by Benavidez but I just dont see the "Monster". He's a slightly better version of Margarito...comes forward, high volume, with slightly better defense. He still leaves himself wide open often but hasnt fought a good enough opponent to capitalize. If he beats Bivol, Beterbiev, or Canelo I will eat my words. He could probably beat Old Canelo from volume alone but Bivol cleanly beats Benavidez. If Beterbiev doesnt age he stops Benavidez.
Benaividez just does not stand in front of people because his defence is excellent whilst he physically abuses his opponents. I am not most because I know what it takes.
Comparing him to Margarito is just plain silly. One guy is highly skilled the other has no skills and is a cheat. Benaividez has a good defence, ring generalship and defensively responsible.
The best cubans don't make it out of Cuba and the ones that do make it out don't leave with their coaches. The coaches stay in Cuba.
No, boxing was struggling without the saudis, a lot of big fights weren`t getting made, the Saudi cards are stacked and do good PPV numbers, there were no stars in boxing for the last ten years before the saudi`s came along aside from Canelo and maybe Tank Davis, Fury and AJ were big stars in Britain but not in the states only reason why Fury got attention in the states was because he beat Wilder there, I don`t know what kind of PPV numbers Fury`s fights have got in the states since his third fight v Wilder.
Some of it was him trying to set traps and on purpose, Benavidez was just so fast he got a lot of time to hit him during them. Other fighters won't have the same success.