Think Benavidez vs Bivol is a 50/50 fight.

Bivol might prove otherwise if he were to beat DB by a shout out performance, but feel like people quite underestimate Benavidez's skillset, just because he doesn't look slick or fancy with it. But he has shown wrinkles and displayed a well rounded skillset against a bigger athletic stylist with impressive punching power. Both Benavidez and Bivol are not particularly the biggest punchers at 175 and have granite chins, making me think this would go the distance. {"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"350","width":"524","src":"https:\/\/talksport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/GiwdOZyWgAA6bu7.jpg?strip=all&quality=100&w=1080&h=1080&crop=1"}{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.boxingscene.com\/forums\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}​ {"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"290","width":"440","src":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/F6xZXlXkb24IU915UjSl0w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/the_independent_us_sports_articles_270\/bb6ce7480fa159b0cc00e1ef5848393f"}{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.boxingscene.com\/forums\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}​ Reason why I think he has definitive shot with Bivol is because: Fighters with efficient static high guards like Benavidez in Craig Richards, and Arthur Beterviev had success on catching him in spurts, because they countered him by catching and shooting by blocking punch combinations and attacking in between shots. Benavidez whose a fighter who has one of the highest accuracy statistics in the sport and is likely one of the fastest combination punchers at 175 can benefit from this. Benavidez also knows how to fight through and around a high guard like Bivol's and peel it off like Beterviev. With Dimitry not having shown much on infighting. Benavidez also has accumulated experience with facing defensive or aggressive stylists like Andrade, Plant and Morrell with similiar dimensions as Bivol albeit they aren't as skilled and likely aren't as durable with possibly David Morrell being a exception, plus even without his experience in main event fights, he has sparred numerous fighters like let's say Andre Dirrell and Dmitry Bivol himself by now at age 28, he be able to handle the distance management better than most light heavyweights kind of like Canelo Alvarez though Alvarez couldn't do much with his limited reach and gas tank, Beterviev whose basic textbook but quite fundamentally sound managed to cut the ring with quite less experience, though he is a much bigger puncher than David Benavidez. Who might need to slow Bivol down with body work and a high punch output instead. Benavidez also knows how to fight well as either a orthodox or a southpaw stance so it be difficult for Bivol to completely control the pace of the fight. {"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"400","width":"299","src":"https:\/\/pbs.twimg.com\/media\/FhoV2StUYAU2xdF.jpg"}{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/www.boxingscene.com\/forums\/core\/image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP\/\/\/wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw=="}​ That is what I think so far at least, like I said I might be wrong, but to me he does seem to have the physical qualities and experience to pull it off. Reason I think he got a good shot is benavidez has longer arms and faster handspeed than bivol bivol got the better footwork and faster feet but Benavidez got the handspeed and bivol not a big puncher he going to have to withstand the full pressure and pace of Benavidez without deterrent i Think 50/50 as well

Good that you mention the Craig Richards fight, who had a lot success vs Bivol in the last 4 rounds. Bivol has great movement but how good will it be after Benavidez works that body with his great body punches? Once Bivol slows down he will get beaten up, and he is actually very open to body shots the way he puts his guard up at mid range. Richards did make it difficult for Bivol to control the pace by catching and shooting. Haven't really seen many boxers attack him to the body excluding Beterviev. and it's not because it is that difficult to apply, it's just that most light heavyweights go head hunting and find Bivol's handspeed to be overwhelming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlwiPVh7KzA

Good that you mention the Craig Richards fight, who had a lot success vs Bivol in the last 4 rounds. Bivol has great movement but how good will it be after Benavidez works that body with his great body punches? Once Bivol slows down he will get beaten up, and he is actually very open to body shots the way he puts his guard up at mid range.