“Do You Think He’s Ready for Canelo?”: Oscar De La Hoya, Claressa Shields, and Others Surprised as David Benavidez Goes to Distance Against Oleksandr Gvozdyk

The path to the undisputed opportunity, the biggest stage to steer their careers to glory, and it was David Benavidez, who pushed his limits and came on top. The American fighter came all guns blazing, and his power proved too much for Oleksandr Gvozdyk, putting in a clinical performance and raising alarm for Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Benavidez’s win, as expected, earned him praise from the fans and pros. What do they have to say?

Notably, Benavidez, 27, cruised to a victory as he outpointed Gvozdyk and swept the judges’ scorecards. Those read 116–112, 117–111, and 119–109 in his favor.

David Benavidez: Too hot to handle for Oleksandr Gvozdyk

The action came quickly and at a high pace early in the fight. Not only did ‘The Mexican Monster’ have good defense and head movement, but he also sat back and unloaded heavy counters. In addition, he also effectively employed jabs in the initial rounds, finding Gvozdyk’s skin and also using them to set up the right hooks.

As the fight progressed, Benavidez was more willing to trade in the middle and engage in bodywork and combinations. The inside bodywork worked wonders for Benavidez, whereas Gvozdyk then relied on jabs to control the pace and distance of the fight. However, Gvozdyk started to drain out in the middle rounds but continued to throw punches. However, the Ukrainian fighter did turn the tables in round 9, as Benavidez decided to take some heat off and looked fatigued.

The same story continued in the championship rounds, as Benavidez appeared tired, with his hands down, and Gvozdyk picked him apart with effective shots. That said, he lacked the power to finish the fight as Benavidez shut down towards the later rounds, with the volume of punches dropping significantly.

Fans and pros react to ‘Mexican Monster’s debut at 175

Rosie Perez pointed out that Benavidez steamrolled Gvozdyk and bagged a comfortable win. But she wondered whether the latest outing indicated his readiness to take on Canelo Alvarez, a fight he has been chasing for years now. She wrote, “Wow. This went all 12. No need though for scorecard! No doubt Benavidez won this fight! Question is… Do you think he’s ready for @Canelo?”

The Hollywood actress then explained what affected the fight’s outcome. While she believed age and his loss against Beterbiev worked against Gvozdyk, it was Benavidez’s relentless pressure, good defense, and deadly combinations that made the difference.

Andre Berto painted a grim picture of the 37-year-old boxer, who sustained enough punishment from Benavidez’s hands. He declared, “But dude definitely might be pissing blood tonight lol. Benavidez is working his a*s lol.”

Wade Plemon shed light on Benavidez’s power, which only increased after he added more mass to his frame. He also lauded Gvozdyk for never giving up, showcasing his granite chin, and absorbing whatever Benavidez threw at him.

Oscar De La Hoya issued a congratulatory message to Benavidez and called for attention to Subriel Matias‘ fight scheduled for the same night. However, Matias suffered the first defeat of his career, as Liam Paro became the IBF champion in a huge upset. The American promoter noted, “Congratulations @Benavidez300 now time for @DAZNBoxing and Matias.”

Claressa Shield was also surprised that the fight went the distance. In the last 6 years, this was the only time Benavidez outpointed his opponent.

What do you make of this fight between David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk? Do you believe Benavidez spells trouble for Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev? Let us know in the comments below.