The proposal was mentioned, and David Benavidez shot it down.
To the post-fight query by Saudi Arabia boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh about whether the former super middleweight titlist would be interested in dropping down from 175lbs to meet new undisputed 168lbs champion Terence Crawford, Benavidez 30-0 (27 KOs) said no.
In a discussion on that matter during Tuesday’s “BoxingScene Today” on ProBoxTV, analysts Paulie Malignaggi and Chris Algieri said they completely understand why the “Mexican Monster” is more comfortable in his position as WBC light-heavyweight champion.
“I don’t know if he has more options at 168 or 175, but the body tells you … he’s bigger. The body wants to hold that extra weight,” Malignaggi said. “Coming down, you put yourself at risk.”
Malignaggi said fighters who’ve moved up in weight only to come back down have been met by diminishing returns, including Chad Dawson and Roy Jones Jnr.
“People will say, ‘Just lose two more pounds.’ Yeah, buddy, you lose two more pounds. Those two pounds can be destructive,” Malignaggi said. “So, you ask yourself, ‘Is it worth the pain? Do I even make the weight? Will I be weak?’”
Algieri added, “And you can get hurt.”
By remaining at light heavyweight, Benavidez may be missing a handsome payday with Crawford that Alalshikh is willing to fund. The unbeaten WBC titlist still remains in position for lucrative fights – even if not as financially rewarding - if he defeats England’s Anthony Yarde in his first title defense November 22 in Saudi Arabia. A win would allow Benavidez to pursue former and current champions Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, as well as cruiserweight champions Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Jai Opetaia.
Beterbiev, Bivol and Opetaia are all familiar Riyadh Season figures.
Crawford can be a big draw “if Turki wants someone to fight him … but [this decision] has to do with [Benavidez’s body] and what it can and can’t do. He’s telling you 168lbs isn’t even in discussion anymore.”
Benavidez spent years saying he would make 168lbs to fight former undisputed Canelo Alvarez. He clearly moved on from that stance once it was clear the fight would not happen. It’s even less likely now that Alvarez was defeated by Crawford.
Instead, Benavidez is moving on to create his own legacy.
“This is the way David Benavidez moves and I like it … there are lots of good options up there,” Algieri said.
The 168lbs division has an inspired batch of contenders, including a dropping-down-in-weight David Morrell, Lester Martinez and Christian Mbilli.
Meanwhile, Crawford, now 38, will decide whether to remain there or drop down to middleweight and pursue becoming a six-division champion.
“It’s an example of how Canelo was holding up the whole division – you’ve now released the monkey wrench [stalling it] and let the division breathe,” Malignaggi said.
As that occurs, Benavidez meets Yarde in a bout that showcases his talent to the vibrant U.K. audience and more global fans on the DAZN main event.
“He has lots of prime left,” Algieri said. “This is a guy who potentially can be the new face of boxing. There is an opening. David Benavidez can be that guy.”
Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.
