Benavidez didn't look the same

looked soft to me. like he slacked on the training. flabby, low output, mouth breathing. maybe he got overconfident having had an easy time with gvozdyk previously in sparring. other than that, he still got them hands, and his defense was sound.

 

On the contrary, this fight proved he's a bully. He is comfortable with fighters smaller than him but is mediocre against fighters of similar size to himself.

And how could a 6' 2'' giant could be a natural 168??

 

EXACTLY THIS. Guys like Benavidez and Haney are weight bullies BECAUSE they don't have the power/chin/stamina to fight at their natural weight. They force themselves to cut a ton of weight because it's the only advantage they have.

 

But he looked undersized against Gvozdyk so he's not a light heavyweight either. He may very well cut down a lot to make 168 but that always comes at a cost, there is a reason why many fighters don't do it, because the cost sometimes isn't worth the benefits.

So what should DB do, stay at 175 where he is at a size disadvantage or move down where he's more effective? You obviously fight at your optimal weight which is what he has been doing.

As for his height, there's been plenty of fighters who have been just as tall at 168 or even lower. Keith Holmes, Frankie Liles, Rocchigiani etc. He makes the weight within the rules and in the end that what matters. He's not breaking rules, hasn't been caught using diuretics or other drugs to make weight, so I personally don't have an issue with it.

 

I only caught the last couple rounds and I guess Gvozdyk came on stronger at the end and look I'm not saying I could take those punches but...

Man those Benavidez punches looked like sissy slaps. Maybe he was tired there but he just kept loading up those wild sissy slaps. This is the guy that beats Bivol, Beterbiev, Canelo? He's going to beat them with those wild sissy slaps? Was Gvozdyk ever hurt?

 

not seriously, but benavidez was landing some wicked body shots that i could tell were rearranging some organs. gvozdyk is a tough dude.

 

Did you guys notice they listed Benavidez as 6'0 and a half for the tale of the tape before the fight tonight? So that confirms this guy has been frauding his 6'2 height his whole career.

 

Benavidez has that soft looking body

He doesn't really cut up

It's a genetic thing

I don't think he is the huge monster people make him out to be

Size wise he looked smaller than Gvozdyk at all times

I'm guessing Benavidez is just lazy and not disciplined

People talking about him belonging at CW

 

I dont think the height makes the difference, natural build and bone structure are more important. Paul Williams was 6'2 and a natural 147 fighter. Fundora is 6'6 and makes 147 though I think he'd be much more comfortable at 154. Benavidez doesnt have the natural build of a 175 pounder, his build is too slight. He might struggle to make 168 but that doesnt mean he a natural 175 fighter

 

At 6'0 and a half I'm starting to think he might be too small for 175.

 

I don’t think he can make 168lb no mores,
Canelo weighted him out.

 

This was pathetic, Gvodzyk wasn’t even trying. Straight up sparring.

Gvodzyk varies the power on his shots in between his lighter punches. Tonight he just stuck to light punches.

Was he afraid of Benavidez’s counterpunches? its funny that he wasn’t afraid of bigger heavier hitting better counterpuncher in Beterbiev..and he was happy to throw hard shots at Beterbiev.

Inactivity doesn’t stop you from throwing hard shots.

Gvodzyk was Canelo’s sparring partner (who has had numerous fixed fights imo) so I’m not in the least surprise this was a fixed fight.

I think a lot of people on this forum are naive to straight up believe all these fights are real

 

Gvozdzyk before the Beterbviev fight would have got a knockout last night