Is David Benavidez overrated?

Just ethered

/thread

 

Benavidez is not overrated, not at all. He's a 3 division world champion and brave to move upper weight classes. He's elite level in my opinion. I want to see him against Usyk or Beterbiev.

I don't know why, but it feels like there's a hate for Benavidez in this forum.

Ramirez: Benavidez carried his speed up in weight. He stayed sharp and composed. That win showed real ambition.

Yarde: Benavidez handled a strong puncher well. He kept his pressure under control. He looked calm and dangerous.

Morrell: Benavidez beat a fast, unbeaten opponent. He stayed busy for twelve rounds. That showed discipline and stamina.

Gvozdyk: Benavidez moved up and still performed well. He beat an experienced former champion. It was a smart, steady win.

Andrade: Benavidez solved a tricky southpaw. He did not rush the fight. His pressure became smarter each round.

Plant: Benavidez stayed patient early. Then he took control with pressure. It was a mature win.

 

Not overrated at all. People weren't signing up to face Andrade or Morrell. Canelo ducked him. There are perhaps styles that could negate a lot of what he does, but we haven't seen it yet.

 

Definitely overratred

Not to say he isn't quite good, he is

But people talking about him winning accolades at HW now just shows you how fickle people can be the week or two after a fight

 

It's first his last two fights that I think he's looked as good as what he's been hyped up to. Not that he looked poor previously, just not overly special. Against Yarde and Zurdo he finally did look as a destroyer, but I want some more performances like that to know that it was all him and not partly down to the opposition on the night.

 

He has tremendous natural ability, and a level of speed and athleticism that seems impossible considering his build. But I think a solid well schooled boxer with good feet (Bivol/Opetaia) would give him all sorts of work.

His last half-dozen wins are all really good though, and I don’t think he’s been manufactured or matched any more favourably than someone like Gervonta “Tank” Davis, who people are fairly high on. I think people overrate his potential, but not his achievements. The “he’d hang with Usyk” talk is complete b0ll0cks.

 

Why not? Usyk had issues with Breidis and he's easily on the same level as Bredis

 

I’m not sure what makes you say that? He has 1 CW win, against someone who he had already sparred extensively no less.

And David lost 5 rounds to Gvozdyk and Caleb Plant. Both of which wouldn’t be fit to lace Briedis’ boots. What’s your point?

 

Usyk's last 6 fights have involved 3 opponents. He just keeps fighting the same guys over and over. The fact you needed to use Usyk sort of proves my point. David's 6 fight run has surpassed basically everyone else in the sport.

Yes he crushed all 14 cans before he beat Gvozdyk. Awesome. Apart from him and Bivol his resume is weak, and he only has 22 pro fights.

Near 40 year old Donaire was an elite win? lol. But when David beats older opponents it does not count because they were old? Notice a problem there? Lets look at his last 6 fights.

Nakatani
Picasso
Akhmadaliyev
Cardenas
Ye Joon
Doheny

David just jumped up 25lbs and beat a unified champion. Inoue has moved 14lbs in his entire career. Let that sink in.

 

Why would you say Gvozdyk would not be fit to lace his boots? He was a high level champion Hilarious how highly Briedis is being rated just because he gave Usyk a good fight.

He was a good boxer/brawler and gave Usyk problems because he was tough and just kept coming forward throwing punches. What does he do better than Benavidez again?

 

Really? Stop

 

That one win is already on par with any win Breidis had despite being his first fight at the weight

 

Some of Usyk’s best cruiserweight wins are common opponents of Briedis. Briedis has wins over Mikaelean and Dorticos (better versions of them than Zurdo beat), he also has wins over Huck, Glowacki, and Manuel Charr.

Briedis had 2 close fights with Opetaia in his late 30s, and Zurdo was too scared to get into the ring with him. That’s very telling wouldn’t you say?

Triangle theory doesn’t work in boxing so this argument is pointless, but would Gvozdyk beat Briedis at cruiserweight? Would he balls. Gvozdyk was great in his own division, but were he to move to cruiser, he’d get smoked by someone like Briedis. He’s far more than a good brawler. You’d have to be fight Usyk to what could legitimately be called a draw.