Though his hopes of fighting Canelo Alvarez and achieving boxing glory dashed momentarily, David Benavidez redirected his focus toward carving out his place in boxing history. From 168 pounds, he shifted base to 175 and tested the waters against Oleksandr Gvozdyk. He won the bout and now awaits the outcome of the upcoming undisputed battle between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Nevertheless, after the Gvozdyk fight, subtle talks emerged that seemingly questioned his performance. For the reputation that he carries, perhaps many expected ‘The Mexican Monster’ to roll over the Olympic bronze medalist’s challenge with relative ease. However, reality often diverges from expectations. The Ukrainian stood his ground and forced Benavidez to walk the distance. But is that all in the story? A leading boxing commentator called out everyone to go through the June 15 fight that coincided with the Gervonta Davis–Frank Martin clash carefully.

David Benavidez vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk: More to it than meets the eye

“What do you think of David at 175? Was he exposed, or you liked his performance?” Asked @ShowBizTheAdult. In the latest episode of his podcast, the commentator set the tone of the narrative. He stated that David Benavidez clearly didn’t get the knockout that he might have wished for. However, the way he fought enthralled him to the core.

“It was new weight, and he did a lot of boxing and a lot of, I’ve never seen David look that good,” said @ShowBizTheAdult. He insisted that anybody who has doubts should review each round closely. He pointed out how David Benavidez dazzled with a dominant performance. But then Oleksandr Gvozdyk didn’t prove himself a mere pushover either. He displayed a gritty chin and fought with a methodical approach that demanded considerable effort from ‘The Mexican Monster’.

But he emphasized how Benavidez’s overall performance should be considered on a positive note. Though he came out a bit fatigued, the commentator added, “But he looked good when it all come together then people going to say, oh, he look good now; he didn’t look good against Gvozdyk; no, he looked good then too… it’s just he got tired.”

Despite David Benavidez throwing some powerful body shots, Oleksandr Gvozdyk played a textbook defensive game. As a result, ‘The Mexican Monster’ soon ran out of ideas to hammer ‘The Nail’ for good. Perhaps, more than the fight itself, the background on which David Benavidez entered the fight and his reputation might have hyped expectations. When the outcome failed to meet those standards, doubts crept in, questioning Benavidez.

Levels to craft

Last year, after demolishing Caleb Plant, ‘The Mexican Monster” forced Demetrius Andrade to retire before the seventh round. Around that time, the WBC made him the mandatory challenger to Canelo Alvarez. That was the fight Benavidez had been clamoring for such a long time. However, he moved up a division, as the Mexican superstar reportedly didn’t appear interested in a matchup, even quoting a hefty price to tilt his mind. So a few followers might have felt: How could he stake a claim for a fight against one of the faces of boxing when he couldn’t pull his act together against a lesser-known champion?

There’s a reason why weight classes exist. A champion might be able to walk over his opponents in one weight class. However, in another division, fending off even a reasonably good fighter might pose a significant challenge. The stakes will only increase. However, it doesn’t necessarily reflect a decline in the champion’s ability. It’s just that he is in a new arena and needs time to adjust.

Considering the fact that he has expressed an interest in fighting the winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev clash, fans will be eagerly watching out for how David Benavidez fares against two of the greatest boxers of contemporary times.

What is your take? Do you agree with the boxing commentator that Benavidez’s performance in the light heavyweight category needs a nuanced review?