David Benavidez, with his impressive record of 29-0 and 24 KOs, finds himself at a crossroads in his career as the World Boxing Council offers him a two-week extension to decide between his mandatory spots at 168 and 175. While Benavidez may desire to retain both positions to secure the best possible deals for himself, the WBC has made it clear that such a luxury will not be granted to him.
A crucial factor contributing to Benavidez’s dilemma is his apparent lack of technical proficiency in the ring. Despite his success in the super middleweight division, where he relied heavily on his size advantage over opponents, his shortcomings were glaringly exposed in his recent bout against Oleksandr Gvozdyk at light heavyweight. Benavidez’s struggles against top-tier competition at 175 highlight his deficiency in technical skills compared to fighters like Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.
Benavidez’s transition to the light heavyweight division has also underscored the limitations of his power as it doesn’t carry over from 168 to 175. His inability to dominate opponents with his physicality at 175, coupled with his lack of technical prowess, puts him at a significant disadvantage against the reigning champions and numerous contenders in the division.
Questionable Fight Selection
Throughout his career, Benavidez has faced criticism for his choice of opponents and his reliance on his size advantage rather than honing his technical skills. While he has dominated at 168, his performance against Caleb Plant exposed weaknesses that were further magnified in his light heavyweight debut. The narrative of Benavidez being a “weight bully” unable to succeed without his size has gained traction, raising doubts about his abilities against elite competition.
David Benavidez faces a critical juncture in his boxing career as he navigates the decision between his mandatory spots at 168 and 175. The challenges posed by elite light heavyweight competition, coupled with his lack of technical ability and diminishing size advantage, cast doubts on his prospects in the division. Moving forward, Benavidez must address these weaknesses and strategize effectively to secure his position among the top fighters in the sport.