Gongora recently beat Akhmedov and finds himself at the top 10. Benavidez is looking to climb back to title contention so it's a ideal fight for both guys, plus it would be fun as hell. Who would you guys pick?
I'd give Góngora a pretty good chance here. He's got a good ole cheen on him, he's got the guile, he's got the power and he's got a great gas tank. He was barely breaking a sweat in an extremely high intensity fight with Akhmedov and found the wicked KO punch on what seems to be a pretty solid chinned opponent in Akhmedov who took a lot of bombs well. Plus I like his countering, he's very sharp when pouncing on openings. Benavídez is obviously going to be favourite but I suspect he's not that iron chinned having been put down by a Gavril jab in a hard fight. He does have blinding speed and power though, with fantastic punch selection in rapid combination. I'd say it'd be quite the firefight with the explosive and sometimes reckless Benavídez maybe being shocked a little at times by Góngora catching him in the midst of an assault. Benavídez should pull through with a clear decision or late stoppage if he can somehow make Góngora feel his pace. I'd actually edge towards Góngora giving him a tough and relatively close fight like Gavril did and I would not rule out a surprise KO.
Going 10-12 rounds against Benavidez is a painful experience and bad for your health and you have to be made out of iron or be able to box your ass off to do so or to even hang around that long. I was genuinely concerned for Gavril's health in the rematch as early as the 4th round IIRC and utterly convinced he wasn't going to be able to last more than a few more rounds. But to his credit he has a titanium chin on and a huge set and heart on him to take the sustained 12 round beating like that and somehow manage to make it to the final bell. Angulo was teak-tough too and looked carved out of granite, but Benavidez broke him down and beat the fight out of him. Not too many at 168 are as tough as Gavril and Angulo and are going to be able to hang around till the late rounds against Benavidez. Gongora is very quick, skilled, sharp, accurate and smart and he can bang and take a good shot and he really impressed me last time out. It would be a great match up and very competitive but ultimately I feel Benavidez will be too big, strong, powerful and relentless for him and will get to him eventually. The only questions I have about Benavidez are the sturdiness of his chin against a legit banger who can hit him hard and often and his ability to keep making the weight.
Keep making weight is the biggest thing. At 175 his size advantage is diminshed plus there will be 0 pressure on Canelo and Plant to take the risk. One day he might be a great 175 champion but he needs more time. Actually as I see more of the level of even the 168 fighters I begin to see more challenges for Benavidez. At one point I thought he had a cake walk to #2 behind Canelo. IDKSAB.
Benavidez. Only ever saw Gongora in his last fight but if that was what we can expect from him, he should be a good test. Will it get him closer to Canelo? Or if Gongora beats Benavidez does he have the style to test Canelo? Canelo needs an epic opponent to reach ATG levels of accomplishment. At least one. Of these two I'd think David might be one but that doesn't necessarily means he beats Gongora, right?
Thats exactly what he will be facing against Canelo, but you think Benevidez will go through him, correct? Can Gangora beat Canelo?