David Benavidez scored a thrilling sixth-round stoppage against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez to win unified cruiserweight titles Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The historic win left only one remaining question: Who will Benavidez fight next?
Benavidez, 32-0 (26 KOs), has now won titles in the super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions – the first to achieve the feat. A 29-year-old Phoenix native who now lives in Miami, Benavidez also became the first to stop Ramirez, further solidifying his pound-for-pound status. He has teased the idea of an eventual move to heavyweight. He called out Saul “Canelo” Alvarez – yet again – in the ring after beating Zurdo. How high can Benavidez rise? Who could challenge him? Most importantly, who might be up on his dance card?
Here are the most likely opponents Benavidez could face in his next fight:
5. Albert Ramirez
Record: 22-0 (19 KO)
Chances of happening: 3 per cent
Level of excitement: 6/10
Ramirez is an up-and-comer in the light heavyweight division and a former Olympian. He isn’t a sexy name, but he is undefeated. Ramirez is scheduled to fight June 4 against Lerrone Richards.
4. Jai Opetaia
Record: 30-0 (23 KOs)
Chances of happening: 10 per cent
Level of excitement: 9/10
Opetaia is viewed as the cruiserweight division’s best fighter by most pundits. A bout between Benavidez and Opetaia would give both a chance to become the clear standout fighter of the division, but it would have to clear some significant promotional hurdles.
3. Artur Beterbiev
Record: 21-1 (20 KOs)
Chances of happening: 15 per cent
Level of excitement: 7/10
Who knows if Beterbiev, at age 41, will ever fight again? That said, the violence between even a somewhat diminished Beterbiev – a brilliant former light heavyweight titleholder – and three-division champ Benavidez could be out of this world.
2. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez
Record: 33-2 (26 KOs)
Chances of happening: 20 per cent
Level of excitement: 10/10
A fight with Alvarez would potentially be the most compelling boxing has to offer. A still-young star on the cusp of crossover status eager to take the crown against a Mexican legend and boxing’s biggest current star? Yes, please. An important question: Will the weights make sense at this point? Maybe not, but if they can find a way to make their way into the ring together, it’s a great fight. Benavidez may have called out Alvarez, but Canelo is already linked to a September bout with Christian Mbilli.
1. Dmitry Bivol
Record: 24-1 (12 KOs)
Chances of happening: 40 per cent
Level of excitement: 8/10
After Saturday’s event, Benavidez stated that it is actually Bivol, not Alvarez, who is No. 1 on his hit list. Benavidez holds belts at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. Bivol is set to return on May 30 against Michael Eifert. It’s clear that if Benavidez can’t get Alvarez – a galactically lucrative fight that has eluded him for years – Bivol would be his ideal stand-in. And at the end of the day, Bivol seems far more likely to say yes to a Benavidez fight than Canelo.
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
