David Benavidez predicts he will end his fight tonight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk with a 10-round knockout in their WBC interim light heavyweight title match at PBC on Prime Video PPV.
Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) says he's been working on “bundling” in training camp, and he sees that as the right strategy to take in his debut at 175 against former WBC light heavyweight champion Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs).
The 'Mexican Beast' Benavidez may eat his words tonight if he takes a foolhardy approach to throwing combinations against Gvozdyk, at levels that are more than anyone he has faced during his long career.
Risks of Combination Strategy Against Gvozdyk
Throwing hard combinations at a puncher like Gvozyk could put the 27-year-old Benavidez at risk of being stopped, as this is a stronger fighter than the guys he's been matched against during his 11-year, 168-fight career.
The only puncher Benavidez has had during his career is David Lemieux, who has always been a moderate fighter and spent most of his career at middleweight.
“I have worked with many groups in this camp. So, I'm looking at a 10-fight stoppage,” said David Benavidez to PPV_Com, regarding his prediction for tonight's fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Las Vegas.
“I have a tough competition, and I'm looking to knock out Oleksandr Gvozdyk. I've always been a 'Monster,' but now it's more obvious.”
Does Benavidez Have An Ego Problem?
Some fans on social media believe that Benavidez is textbook an egomaniac. He shows signs of delusions of grandeur, an exaggerated sense of his abilities, believes he's better than he is, and thinks he'll make it through the 175-lb division.
They point out that Benavidez's refusal to accept Canelo Alvarez's reluctance to fight is another example of his egomaniac tendencies.
“There were questions when I entered with high-level players, and I certainly have, especially since I don't have to sharpen myself to be able to do 168,” said Benavidez. “I feel strong. “When I fight a big fighter, someone better than me comes out,” said Benavidez without mentioning the “big fights” he faced.
The problem with Benavidez's statement about his “best” coming out if he “goes with a big fighter” is that he's never had a big fight in his career.
You can't call 36-year-old Demetrius Andrade and Caleb Plant “powerhouses,” as they don't fit into that category. Plant can't punch and was knocked out by Canelo Alvarez in 2021. Benavidez had all kinds of problems against Plant, needing a full 12-round decision.
Benavidez did not fight David Morrell Jr. when he was called up by him, and he has been fighting in the lower division for his entire career. His opposition was weak, and he is not the fighter he portrays himself to be.
Teddy Atlas Predictions: Spoiler alert!
Former trainer Teddy Atlas is predicting an upset loss for Benavidez tonight, as he feels he misjudged Gvozdyk, thinking he is old and moving on from their split years ago.
“I believe that Benavidez and his people misjudged Gvozdyk by taking him out of sparring with his age. He became a different fighter after that. I feel angry,” former trainer Teddy Atlas told X.
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