After spending a year on the sidelines, work is cut out for Dmitry Bivol. The WBA light heavyweight champion first faces Lyndon Arthur this Saturday, December 23, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Beyond this fight, a larger threat looms in David Benavidez, who has bludgeoned the 168 division and eyes a move up to 175.

The Russian fighter is returning to the square circle after having a splendid 2022 when he defeated Canelo Álvarez and Gilberto Ramírez. However, he had a lengthy break and had to undergo surgery as he fixed his right hand. While he harbors intentions to become an undisputed champion at 175, a fight with ‘The Mexican Monster’ is long teased. Amusingly, both also share a history, as they once sparred behind closed doors. If the Mexican fighter’s recent exploits indicate anything, the light heavyweight champion might be in deep waters.

David Benavidez: A threat waiting to explode on the scene

Dmitry Bivol is a traditional boxer who scraps wins through decisions. It has been over five years since he scored a KO win. In all 12 of his last fights, he outpointed his opponent. Meanwhile, David Benavidez is a fighter who brings raw power to the ring and prefers to go to war.

Benavidez’s recent wins against Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade establish him as a top name and add to his threat. He is a hard puncher and can produce some hard-hitting combinations that might floor any opponent, including Bivol. The 27-year-old’s boxing prowess and his current red-hot form might tip the scales in his favor against an aging Bivol.

The Phoenix native is a natural light heavyweight who has been draining down to make weight at 168 for years. His size advantage might take a hit if he shares the ring with Bivol, and he might not be able to force himself as he does with others at 168. But that might only play to his advantage, as he will be faster and pack more power behind those punches. “I think at 175, I’m going to be even more stronger and faster, “ Benavidez once declared.

A blast from Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez’s past

David Benavidez, at 28-0, has expressed his desire to move up to 175 on multiple occasions. He has also zeroed in on Bivol as the champion he wants to dislodge. “After I’m done with 168, I’m going up to 175. And that’s the first fight I want. I want Bivol at 175,” he revealed his plans to ESNEWS.

Benavidez’s eagerness to match Bivol suggests that he decoded how to break down Bivol whenever they sparred away from the cameras years ago. Whenever he talks about going blow-to-blow with Bivol, there is a brimming confidence, as if he has learned his weakness and knows how to shatter Bivol’s undefeated record.

“We had some great sparring sessions. He’s a great boxer. I’m really competitive. I want to be the best. I sparred Bivol a lot. So I know what happened during those sparring sessions. Yeah, I can beat him. I can knock him out,” Benavidez declared. However, the only hurdle in their destined clash is their different priorities.

The Canelo and Championship Conundrum

Dmitry Bivol, at 21-0, has closed the doors on the Canelo Álvarez rematch. If Alvarez wanted the rematch, they would have fought by now. The 33-year-old champion wants to challenge Artur Beterbiev to claim that coveted, undisputed title at 175. On the other hand, a fight with Alvarez is what Benavidez dreams about.

However, Bivol is fighting Lyndon Arthur as a tune-up fight. He strongly believes a fight with Beterbiev is next. “I hope that I win this fight, and my name fight will be for the undisputed in my weight class,” Bivol declared. But what about after Beterbiev? Bivol is ready to entertain the idea.

Read More: “It’s Very Interesting Fight But”: Sparred With David Benavidez and Defeated Canelo Alvarez Earlier, Dmitry Bivol Sheds Light on How Possible Saul vs Benavidez Fight Would Go Now

Bivol’s ambition is to chase belts, and he will have his shot only after Callum Smith has his shot in January. By the time he finishes with all the light heavyweight belts, he will be around 34. He will then face a more hungry and passionate Benavidez, who is just ready to march to titles whether he fights Alvarez or not.

What do you make of this hypothetical fight between Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez? Who do you think will win? Let us know in the comments below.

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