Who's next for Benavidez?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by CroBox29, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:41 AM.


Page 1 of 2
  1. CroBox29

    CroBox29 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,333
    6,101
    Nov 24, 2019
    Opetaia, Bivol or Beterbiev? I don't see anyone other than those three who can beat him.
     
    CroBox29, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:41 AM
    CroBox29, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:41 AM
    #1
    Bokaj and KiwiMan like this.
  2. KiwiMan

    KiwiMan Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,424
    14,646
    Feb 28, 2016
    He definitely can't beat Opetaia. If he wants a cruiserweight belt he needs to try one of the other belt holders.

    I'd favour Bivol or Beterbiev of a few years ago, but who knows now - especially Beterbiev is getting old.
     
    KiwiMan, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:58 AM
    KiwiMan, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:58 AM
    #2
    MarkusFlorez99, The Cryptkeeper, Parker90 and 2 others like this.
  3. CroBox29

    CroBox29 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,333
    6,101
    Nov 24, 2019
    I agree with you and I would also personally favor Opetia, but we have to admit that it would be a great fight, considering that the Cruiserweight division is quite weak, and Benavidez could easily go a higher division, and I am convinced that Benavidez would have a chance against Opetia, while Zurdo would have no chance...
     
    CroBox29, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:12 AM
    CroBox29, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:12 AM
    #3
    MarkusFlorez99 and KiwiMan like this.
  4. tarrant45

    tarrant45 Active Member Full Member

    1,161
    1,331
    Jun 17, 2023
    Keep underestimating Benavidez. Jai's claim to fame is beating old man Briedis and getting busted up in the process.
     
    tarrant45, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:17 AM
    tarrant45, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:17 AM
    #4
    OldSchoolBoxing likes this.
  5. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

    7,354
    9,097
    Dec 18, 2022
    Ideally, Bivol or Beterbiev.
     
    Melankomas, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:42 AM
    Melankomas, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:42 AM
    #5
    TipNom and CroBox29 like this.
  6. Redbeard7

    Redbeard7 Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,431
    2,505
    Oct 9, 2022
    At some point age and injuries will catch up with Beterbiev, who is about to turn 41. I think Bivol has Benavidez's number because Benavidez doesn't have quick feet. He lost a few late rounds to past prime Gvozdyk and lost most of the first half to Plant. Opetaia seems too much.

    Zurdo is an interesting fight. Noel Gevor too if he beats Jack.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
    Redbeard7, Nov 23, 2025 at 4:32 AM
    Redbeard7, Nov 23, 2025 at 4:32 AM
    #6
    Hanz Cholo and hoopsman like this.
  7. UniversalPart

    UniversalPart Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,699
    11,898
    Jul 1, 2010
    Benavidez is not a big LHW.

    I don't know what he rehydrates to but he would be much smaller than Opateia in a fight.
     
    UniversalPart, Nov 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM
    UniversalPart, Nov 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM
    #7
  8. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    28,258
    13,288
    Jan 4, 2008
    Bivol, of course, and Beterbiev because of the great stylistic match-up.

    But two guys in their primes for all the belts is naturally the main fight to make.
     
    Bokaj, Nov 23, 2025 at 7:59 AM
    Bokaj, Nov 23, 2025 at 7:59 AM
    #8
  9. AlwaysFirst

    AlwaysFirst Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,087
    1,693
    Nov 28, 2015
    Even though I would like to see him stay a LHW it would be fun to see him destroy Zurdo
     
    AlwaysFirst, Nov 23, 2025 at 8:52 AM
    AlwaysFirst, Nov 23, 2025 at 8:52 AM
    #9
    Hanz Cholo and Parker90 like this.
  10. Hanz Cholo

    Hanz Cholo Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,327
    9,527
    Jul 11, 2012
    He already said he is fighting Zuedo in cinco de mayo
     
    Hanz Cholo, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:24 AM
    Hanz Cholo, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:24 AM
    #10
  11. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

    81,165
    133,538
    Jul 21, 2009
    Why is Zurdo fighting Benavidez and not unifying with Opetaia who is desperate for a unification match up and is #1 CW?
     
    Serge, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
    Serge, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
    #11
  12. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,820
    4,583
    Dec 5, 2010
    Why is everyone talking about him at CW? Let's see what he can do at LHW. He could feasibly go undisputed in a historic division.

    Bivol is inactive and doesn't have the power I think is required to keep Benvaidez at bay. Very, very interesting fight.
     
    Slyk, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM
    Slyk, Nov 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM
    #12
  13. CroBox29

    CroBox29 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,333
    6,101
    Nov 24, 2019
    Zurdo has no chance of getting past Benavidez, let alone Opetaia, so no fight is a win for him...
     
    CroBox29, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
    CroBox29, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
    #13
  14. The Cryptkeeper

    The Cryptkeeper Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,018
    5,785
    May 9, 2023
    Keep underestimating Opetaia.

    He walks through Benavidez. And everyone else at CW for that matter.
     
    The Cryptkeeper, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:52 PM
    The Cryptkeeper, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:52 PM
    #14
  15. Ricdog

    Ricdog Active Member Full Member

    670
    260
    Apr 10, 2015
    He fights and beats Zurdo, becoming a 3 division champ. After that, it’s a mystery.

    Ideally, he should go back to 175 and challenge the guys there. Bivol and Beterbiev are still the top dogs and getting at least one of those scalps would be a great boost to Benavidez’s legacy.

    On the other hand, there is a chance he stays at cruiser weight. Fights Opetaia for unification or something. Well this would be nice to see, it also diminishes his future. Cruiserweight just isn’t a popular division and never has much in big money names.

    David unfortunately got screwed by Canelo. He’s old school fighter that does the right things but isn’t the ppv star that he could have been under the right conditions
     
    Ricdog, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
    Ricdog, Nov 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
    #15
    tarrant45 likes this.
Page 1 of 2