Tired of years of chasing, David Benavidez wants to script his own destiny. After Canelo Alvarez has shunned him, the American fighter is ready to bludgeon the light heavyweight division and carve out a legacy of his own, irrespective of whether he fights the undisputed middleweight champion. Welcoming him is a former world champion, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, who is on his second run in the sport, aiming for the gold strap. It’s a contest of two contrasting destinies, two diligent hard workers, but only one will emerge victorious in such a high-stakes fight.

So, what’s at stake? An interim WBC light heavyweight strap and a road to undisputed glory at 175. The winner will punch himself a golden ticket and later meet the winner of Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev somewhere next year. But if you are a fan of numbers and stats, dive into the statistical picture that we painted for you.

David Benavidez vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk: Tale of tape

You might have felt Benavidez has been around for a while, but he is merely 27 and is only about to hit his prime. ‘Mexican Monster’ has ransacked the super middleweight division and currently sits with an unblemished record of 28-0. If you want to get the gist of his knockout power, look at his wins, which he picked via knockouts. The numbers stand at a staggering 24, along with a KO ratio of 85.71%. If that’s not impressive, you need to realize the Phoenix native picked those while draining himself and struggling to make the cut-off weight of 168 lbs. His height of 6’2″ (1.88 m) and reach of 74½” (189 cm) also aided in reaching the foe’s skin earlier and connecting his heavy hits more swiftly than his opponent.

Gvozdyk, on the other hand, is already well-adjusted to the vagaries of the 175-pound division. When the fans laid eyes on them in the press conference and saw them stand together, it was he who looked the bigger of the two. Interestingly, you might not know that both have identical height measures, but the Ukrainian fighter has the reach advantage at 75½” (192 cm) which can help him keep any boxer at bay in the ring. What’s more? He also has a remarkable record to show, at 20-1 with 16 KOs. There is a reason he belongs in the same ranks as his fellow compatriots, Oleksandr Usyk and Vasily Lomachenko. The 37-year-old has been an expert in closing fights and, when the situation arises, grinding out results too. His KO ratio of 80% also suggests the same. Adding to his repute is his consistency and discipline, and he won’t give you a reason to complain about his weight cuts either. When Gvozdyk last stood on the scales, those tipped at 175 lbs (79.55 kg).

Clash of similar fight styles: power and fireworks

Benavidez’s career has been a story of two halves, with some pauses and steep curves in between. While he has been the most effective and efficient boxer at times, he has failed to separate his outside ring issues from affecting him. His struggles with drugs and weight ensured he dropped the WBC title twice due to reasons not concerning the squared circle. That said, the former WBC champion is a physically daunting fighter and always fights on offense. Notably, he also holds the laurels of becoming the youngest fighter to bag a super middleweight title when he scrapped a win against Ronald Gavril.

‘El Bandera Roja’ has transformed himself since losing his gold the second time. He demolished former titlist David Lemieux, Caleb Plant, and most recently, Demetrius Andrade, with his volume punching and relentless pressure. In addition, you can expect the former champion to still pack that power when he moves up to 175, as he has the body frame to feel at ease.

Does that raise an alarm for Gvozdyk? Not exactly. He is a dish with the perfect blend of boxing prowess and punching power. The Kharkiv native built his professional career on the heels of a standout amateur career. He then assumed the champion’s throne at 175 until Beterbiev’s juggernaut halted his run. Despite suffering a loss, that fight elevated his boxing credentials in the boxing community and proved that he could hang out with the elites. However, the 2012 Olympics medalist then hung up his gloves and was on a shelf for 3 years, only to return last year with three victories against not-so-popular names.

But can Gvozdyk do the same with Benavidez? He has enough tools, and explosive power, and can leverage his reach, but will that be enough? Have ‘The Nail’s last three fights prepared him to take on a fighter of Benavidez’s caliber, who is younger and fresher?

Prediction: Who wins it at Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin?

What separates Benavidez from the rest? It’s the orthodox boxer’s aggression and higher punch output. Even if you survive the round, he will appear as the busier fighter due to his high work rate, and the judges will tend to favor that aggression, irrespective of the effective punches. Moreover, that will tire out Gvozdyk in the later rounds, if the fight stretches over the 12 rounds.

Gvozdyk has his work cut out as he has to negate Benavidez’s aggression and forward pressure and also save his chin. But he also has the same skillset. There have been times when Benavidez’s overconfidence has opened a window, leaving him vulnerable, and Gvozdyk has the power and skills to exploit it. However, his inactivity, the quality of his opponents in his second run, and his age pose serious concerns. Overall, the fight will be competitive with non-stop action, and it remains to be seen whose power will prevail.

What do you make of this coming fight between David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk on the Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin undercard? Who do you think will become challenger for the undisputed crown at 175? Let us know in the comments below.