Gvozdyk Not Worried By Benavidez's “Monster” Persona Before Saturday Night

Oleksandr Gvozydk says he doesn't consider David Benavidez a “beast” in their fight Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Benavidez's Reliance on Intimidation

Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) notes that Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) can try and threaten early if that helps him get more motivation, but it won't work.

2012 Olympic bronze medalist Gvozdyk says he's had more than 200 junior fights in his career, and he's seen fighters who try to intimidate him, but that doesn't work for him.

Benavidez is great at intimidating his opponents, which is reflected in his imagination. He feels he needs that to help him win. The idea is to intimidate his opponents so that they don't fight hard.

People who rely on intimidation appear insecure and lack courage and self-confidence. Maybe that's why Benavidez chose to stay at 168 for so long, a weight class much smaller than his actual size.

Benavidez's Weight Class Advantage: Bullying Form?

Former WBC light heavyweight champion Gvozdyk expressed his curiosity about how Benavidez can slim down to 168, as he is bigger than him.

Gvozdyk would have had a much better chance in his rematch if he had given up his 168-fight career the way Benavidez did, and he would have gone undefeated, especially if he was fighting the same opposition as David.

The real question is, why did Benavidez choose to put himself through pure torture all these years until he got to 168 instead of fighting at 175 or 200, where he belonged?

This Saturday, June 15, Benavidez will fight Gvozdyk for the WBC interim light heavyweight title at PBC on Prime Video PPV at the MGM Grand Garden in New York. The two fighters will be fighting in the co-feature slot on the Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin.

Gvozdyk Dismisses Nickname “Beast”.

“Beast is a name. I doubt it. I don't believe in monsters. If you compare him to a super hero, I will probably face a human monster,” said Oleksandr Gvozdyk in the media talking about David Benavidez's nickname given by Mike Tyson.

“I'll gain about 15 pounds. I think he's going to be big,” Gvozdyk said when asked if the 15 lbs he's putting on will be beneficial to Benavidez. “Well, I think he is a great man.

“Now, we are different fighters. It happened eight years ago,” said Gvozdyk about his breakup with Benavidez. “We are completely different people. We both improved a lot.

“I never thought about him because his whole career, he was 168 years old, I am 175 years old. He has great hand speed, throws a lot of combinations, and has a good ability to absorb punches. He is a super hero.

“No never. I'll be there,” said Gvozdyk when told that Benavidez had an extra gear that he turned on in the eighth round to score goals.