David Benavidez says he will only return to super middleweight against Canelo Alvarez

Written by Alan Dawson

LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez makes his light heavyweight debut Saturday against Oleksandr Gvozdyk at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and it's a division he'll stay in unless he defends one super middleweight title.

Specially speaking Debate News before his fight at 175 kg, Benavidez said he would only go back to 168 if it was one fight in his entire fight at that weight – a shot at undefeated champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

“I'll be completely honest,” he told us. “I only want Canelo's fight at 168. It's something I've achieved.”

Benavidez must first get past Gvozdyk, which is no easy task. The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist has been on a tear since turning pro, winning 20 fights (16 by knockout) with just one loss – by knockout, to Artur Beterbiev in 2019.

Gvozdyk beat Tommy Karpency, Isaac Chilemba, and Adonis Stevenson in previous years, and is one of five Ukrainians looking to follow his countryman's streak this year, thanks to victories over Oleksandr Usyk, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Denis Berinchyk. , and Serhii Bohachuk.

Although Benavidez and his promoter Sampson Lewkowicz respect Gvozdyk, having spoken with both of them last week, it's clear that they are confident it's a fight they'll win, regardless of Gvozdyk's skills, his experience at the weight, and his determination to win his fight. the country.

Considering the big fights that could await Benavidez, it's smart for them not to look beyond Gvozdyk – Canelo, or the winner of the Dmitri Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev fight later this year.

“Both are really big fights,” said Benavidez.

Lewkowicz, on the other hand, told Debate News that while a fight with the winner of Bivol vs Beterbiev is “possible” after the Gvozdyk result, they will continue to campaign for the Canelo fight, regardless.

“David wants to get back to 168 pounds,” Lewkowicz said. “You want Canelo.”

Lewkowicz continued: “He agreed to a very small amount of money to fight him, not on a pay day. He wants to hit the best of 168, then he goes [permanently] up to 175.

While a fight against Bivol or Beterbiev in Riyadh is a big event, Lewkowicz sees the Canelo showdown as a show that draws a lot of interest. “I believe in America. Canelo and Benavidez will sell out any arena here in 24 hours,” he said, adding that it was a clear Las Vegas fight.

Whether they book Canelo's belt or not, they are open to a fight in Saudi Arabia against the best the light heavyweight division has to offer. Because, according to Lewkowicz, Benavidez “deserves to be at the top of the list of the 10 best fighters in the world.”

For Benavidez it was always a matter of belts and money, “My dream was to get all the belts and always be the champion,” said the boxer.

“He's the guy I want to fight [Canelo] — he has all the belts — but he doesn't want to fight me. If we can really get a deal, I will fight him there but if I don't fight Canelo, I will not back down.”

The Benavidez vs Gvozdyk fight, which precedes the main event between Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin, airs as Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view on Prime Video. The show is also available on PPV.com.