David Benavidez recently showcased his speed and combination skills in a new Instagram post, gearing up for his upcoming fight on December 14th at 175 pounds. While his speed looks impressive in the video, there are growing concerns about his power at the light heavyweight division. In order to pose a serious threat to the winner of the upcoming fight between unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and WBA champ Dmitry Bivol, Benavidez will need to address his lack of power.
Despite the anticipation surrounding Benavidez’s next opponent, there has been no official announcement regarding who he will face in December. Speculation on social media has suggested that Jesse Hart could be his potential rival. However, fans who were hoping for a top-five-ranked contender may be disappointed if the rumors are true. While fighting Hart would not be without risks, it would provide Benavidez with an opportunity to prove his worthiness for a title shot against the Beterbiev-Bivol winner.
Having only fought once at 175 pounds, Benavidez currently holds the WBC mandatory position for Beterbiev. However, he will need to wait for a potential rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol before getting his shot at the title. This waiting period necessitates a fight on December 14th against an opponent yet to be determined. Benavidez, also known as the ‘Mexican Monster’, claimed the WBC interim light heavyweight title in a previous bout against Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Despite his victory, Benavidez’s debut at 175 pounds left much to be desired, with his performance being attributed to injuries.
In his most recent mitt workout shared on Instagram, Benavidez failed to display a noticeable increase in power compared to his previous fight. This suggests that his lackluster performance at light heavyweight may not be solely attributed to injuries. With his power not translating effectively from the super middleweight division to light heavyweight, Benavidez is likely to encounter difficulties against the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol matchup. If he hopes to secure a title shot and succeed in the light heavyweight division, Benavidez must focus on enhancing his punching power moving forward.