Does David Benavidez Have What It Takes To Succeed in the 175 Lb Division?

No one doubts what David Benavidez can do at 168 pounds. Out-muscling opponents, flatlining them, and making their faces plum red with heavy punishment is a usual scene when he steps into the boxing ring. But skepticism did rise when he made the switch to 175. Was it a smart call? After all, he was chasing a legacy—a shot at glory and wanted to carve out a different path for himself. And he did succeed. Not without questions, though. So, are those questions concerning enough for the ‘Mexican Monster’ to reconsider his decision? Or can he brush those aside and march ahead, and make himself comfortable at 175?

Benavidez, 27, had an uphill task when he battled Oleksandr Gvozdyk last Saturday and made his debut in the light heavyweight division. However, he got most things right. The former super middleweight champion put relentless pressure, maintained his devastating power, and could unload combinations at will. But what went wrong? There were a few glaring issues, which, if not ironed out soon, could spell doom for him.

David Benavidez: vagaries of 175 and a balancing act of power

Despite picking up the WBC interim light-heavyweight title, the 27-year-old couldn’t close the fight. That’s a shade apart from his usual lethal self. Aren’t we used to him collecting highlight-reel stoppages? But this version of Benavidez appeared gassed out in the later rounds, didn’t throw punches at a higher volume, and was there to be hit as he stood stationary at some moments. If there was another top contender in his youth with a knockout power similar to that of Benavidez, then the outcome might well have been different as well.

But the Phoenix native was lucky. He faced a beyond-his-prime 37-year-old Gvozdyk. Will Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev give him a similar window to escape unscathed? We highly doubt that. It appears there is a reason for the former two-time WBC champion’s lack of intent to finish the fight. When he walked to the press conference after the fight, he showed his swollen left hand. A torn right arm ligament, swelling in the hand, and a cut over the eyes. These are the injuries that Benavidez walked with into the squared circle. While he did reasonably enough to bag a win, doesn’t that cast doubt on his ability to make adjustments to 175?

Some stamina issues also appeared to plague Benavidez. While he has the frame to adapt to life at 175, the added mass slowed him down in the later rounds. The lack of experience at 175 was apparent and troublesome. However, that’s not something that Benavidez can’t rectify. That being said, the 29-0 record-holder still packed the power behind his punches to go blow-to-blow with Gvozdyk, and his jabs, counter punches, and combinations worked in tandem to rock Gvozdyk.

In addition, his bodywork also did substantial damage. So, the fans at least don’t have to worry about the weapons in his arsenal and power when he fights at 175. But what many would be concerned about is Benavidez’s weight adjustments and size advantage, as both took a toll on his body. Maybe a fight or two will help him adjust better. But does he have the time?

Is 175 the best weight division for ‘The Mexican Monster’?

Undoubtedly, Benavidez has the skill set to make waves at 175. Throw into the mix his heart and his willingness to take on risky fights, and you have the perfect starfighter. But the same is a recipe for disaster. Can ‘El Bandera Roja’ take on the natural light-heavyweight fighters? That’s something only his prolonged stay will reveal. And that’s also contingent on his aspirations.

Where does Benavidez want to reign supreme? At 175 or 168? His aspirations still scream 168, and that’s a logical decision. Bivol and Beterbiev will fight it out on October 12, and the stipulation of a rematch pushed their ultimate showdown to 2025. Can Benavidez afford to wait this long to clinch a world title? We highly doubt it.

Benavidez also holds the WBC interim super middleweight title and is patiently awaiting his opportunity to face Canelo Alvarez in his dream fight. As the wait spills into the third year now, the WBC might move next to either stage the fight or strip the Mexican champion of his belt. Either way, Benavidez is set to gain, and that’s something his camp is aware of, too. It will eventually boil down to the WBC and whether they decide to squeeze an early call out of Benavidez to pick which division’s champion he wants to challenge. And in all certainty, the choice is already made up.

Where do you think David Benavidez should head next? Is it a fight at 175 or the decision to go back to 168? Let us know in the comments below.