Newly crowned unified crusierweight champ David Benavidez made clear Tuesday evening whom he wants to fight next and not surprisingly, it's unified light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol. However, it's complicated to make that fight happen next.
Newly crowned unified cruiserweight champion David Benavidez made it clear Tuesday evening who he wants next, and it comes as no surprise. His target is unified light heavyweight champion, Russian Dmitry Bivol. While the matchup is highly appealing, there are still hurdles that could delay it from happening in the immediate future.
First, Benavidez, demolished Zurdo Ramirez in six rounds Saturday night in Las Vegas to gain the WBA/WBO cruiserweight belts. He has looked like one the premier fighters in the higher weight classes over the course of the last three years and counting.
Meanwhile, Bivol, who currently holds the IBF, WBA, and WBO titles at 175 lb., has unfinished business to handle first. He is scheduled to return to the ring on May 30th in Russia against IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert. The bout marks Bivol’s first appearance since undergoing back surgery last August, making his health and performance a key factor before any super fight discussions can fully materialize.
Despite that complication, Benavidez, who still holds in the short term the WBC light heavyweight title, revealed during an appearance on Shawn Porter's "The Porter Way Podcast" that preliminary talks have already begun behind closed doors for a possible Bivol showdown.
“We’re already in talks with that," he said on the show. "But first things first. We got to see how he comes out, like if he comes out with any injuries. I don’t think he’s going to have any problems in that type of way. But that fight is definitely happening.”
When asked whether the fight would be at cruiserweight and he keeps the titles he just won or would he vacate those and comeback to light heavyweight, Benavidez said,
"Maybe we can do a catchweight at 190 (lb.). We get the cruiserweight belts involved, we get the light heavyweight belts involved, and winner takes all.
“I can still get to 175 (lb.),” Benavidez said later in the show. “The thing is, if I do end up fighting him, it’s probably not going to be until the end of the year. It won’t be in September. If I get to work now, I can get down to that weight, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing."
Watch the full conversation on "The Porter Way" here,
The potential clash has been building for some time. In fact, Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) was previously ordered by the WBC to face Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) early last year. But, instead of complying, Bivol chose to vacate the belt in pursuit of a third bout with countryman Artur Beterbiev. This after the two fighters split their previous meetings.
Bivol won the interim title and was eventually elevated by the WBC. It's believed that the WBC will soon order Benavidez to decide if he intends to stay at cruiserweight or not? And, then, he would have to vacate their belt himself.
One further factor is whom would put up the money for a potential Benavidez-Bivol battle? Turki Alashikh and the Saudi Entertainment Authority money were behind both of the Bivol-Beterbiev fights.
Alashikh also bankrolled Benavidez's win over Anthony Yarde in Saudi Arabia back in November. However, he was not financially involved in the Benavidez-Ramirez PPV nor the upcoming Bivol title defense.
Which fight does Alashikh value more to pay huge money for? That's an unknown.
So, while a third fight with Beterbiev remains a possibility, Benavidez believes a showdown with Bivol offers something more compelling for fans and the sport alike. Certainly, off his repeated impressive showings, including on the "Cinco de Mayo Weekend," it would be a massive commercial fight for he and Bivol in Vegas, as well.