As David Benavidez heads to his first WBC light heavyweight title defense next month, he is approaching it with a new reality.
“He’s super motivated, super happy and connecting with God and the vibe,” Benavidez’s father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Snr, told BoxingScene on Monday from the family’s training compound in Seattle.
“This will be the toughest fight of his career, and we know every fight after this will be tougher.”
Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), is a two-division titleholder who also reigned at super middleweight. He will meet England’s two-time light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Yarde, 27-3 (24 KOs), in the main event of the loaded November 22 Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia that also includes title fights featuring Brian Norman Jnr vs. Devin Haney, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez vs. Fernando Martinez and Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes.
“David’s fighting a guy who stumbled and hurt [former undisputed champion Artur] Beterbiev, and he also fought ‘The Krusher’ [Sergey Kovalev] … so he may be thinking this is his last chance to fight for a world title,” Benavidez Snr said. “We’re preparing as if [Yarde’s] coming with everything, motivated, training like never before.
“So David has to look spectacular. There’s nothing else he can do but win and look great as he steps to higher competition and to the tougher fights people want to see.”
For David Benavidez, appetizing opponents have been mentioned as potential next foes should he defeat Yarde, including the winner of the trilogy rubber match between Beterbiev and three-belt light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol and cruiserweight champions Jai Opetaia and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
Following his June 28 unified title defense over Yuniel Dorticos, Ramirez mentioned Benavidez first to BoxingScene when asked whom he most wants to fight next.
Ramirez underwent shoulder surgery in July, but one official familiar with talks said there has been mention of attempting to make a fight with Benavidez in Las Vegas in 2026.
Benavidez remains a part of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions stable, Jose Benavidez Snr emphasized, detailing that his son’s “performance” will determine which route they proceed.
“This is the biggest fight of David’s career, so we must remain 100% focused on this fight,” Benavidez said. “David will fight anybody. We don’t run from anyone. We always want the fights that people want to see.”
Benavidez said his son has severed ties with controversial strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia and reunited with their former strength and conditioning coach, Cem Eren.
Benavidez said his son has been “sharp, accurate, fast” with “reflexes and IQ … everything has been right on point.”
David Benavidez’s sparring partners have included super middleweights Julio Porras, 13-0 (9 KOs), of Mexico, and Daniel Blancas, 13-0 (6 KOs), of Wisconsin, after starting with cruiserweights and heavyweights.
Blancas will fight on the undercard of the October 25 pay-per-view card headlined by Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman, while Porras will be on the November 22 card in Saudi Arabia.
“I’m expecting David to look at his best on November 22, and to keep improving, showing the world who he is – the ‘Mexican Monster,’” said Benavidez Snr.
