With success comes attractive options.
Rising star David Benavidez took another significant step in his career on Saturday in Las Vegas, where the bruising 168-pound contender beat up and knocked out previously unbeaten former two-division titleholder Demetrius Andrade after six rounds.
What’s next for “The Mexican Monster?”
We know the opponent that Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) wants most, but, if that fight doesn’t happen, there are other compelling potential foils at 160, 168 and even 175 pounds for one of the hottest fighters in the world.
Here are five possibilities (in order of desirability).
CANELO ALVAREZ (60-2-2, 39 KOs)
This is the fight. Benavidez’s six-round evisceration of Demetrius Andrade removed any remaining doubt that he’s the biggest threat to Alvarez at 168 pounds and below. Benavidez wants the fight, the fans want the fight, everyone wants the fight. Now it’s up to Alvarez. He has never run from a challenge, although he has been focused more on collecting belts than facing the best possible foes the past several years. He’s 100 percent healthy now, as he demonstrated in a strong performance against Jermell Charlo on Sept. 30. He looked better in that fight than he has in years, a blow to those who have suggested he’s in decline. Canelo, stop collecting belts and fighting smaller men. Face your biggest potential challenge south of 175, Benavidez, who also happens to be your WBC mandatory challenger. Benavidez vs. Alvarez could be the best possible fight in the sport right now.
JERMALL CHARLO (33-0, 22 KOs)
Benavidez might not want to fight two naturally smaller men back to back but Charlo could be a legitimate threat. The 160-pound titleholder bounced back from a 2½-year layoff by easily outpointing courageous, but relatively diminutive Jose Benavidez Jr. on the David Benavidez-Andrade card, showing no obvious ring rust. And he looked comfortable at his weight for the fight, 166.4 pounds, 3.4 over he agreed-upon weight and only 1.6 below the super middleweight limit. It wouldn’t be a stretch for Charlo to fight Benavidez at 168. Charlo’s twin brother has accomplished more than he has but he also is one of the best in the business. He’s skillful (his jab is beautiful), athletic and experienced. And he has a following, which always makes prospective opponents attractive. I think Benavidez would like this matchup. So would the fans.
DAVID MORRELL (9-0, 8 KOs)
Morrell probably is a longshot to land a fight with Benavidez because he doesn’t have a significant following but it would be an intriguing matchup. The former youth amateur star from Cuba, now a resident of Minneapolis, has had only nine pro fights and hasn’t faced a top-tier opponent. Thus, we can’t be certain about his ability. However, he checks all the boxes in terms of the eye test against solid opponents: his skill set, his power, his poise and his ring generalship. He appears to be the complete package, one that might be able to give Benavidez problems. The guess here is that Morrell will have to continue to build his reputation by knocking out progressively better opponents but his time will come. He’s 25, only a year younger than Benavidez. This could be a compelling rivalry in the years to come.
JAIME MUNGUIA (42-0, 33 KOs)
Benavidez has expressed interest in facing Munguia. And for good reason: The former 154-pound champ from Mexico wouldn’t be difficult to find. Munguia, 27, has a similar seek-and-destroy style to that of Benavidez and heavy hands, which accounts for his 33 knockouts. He will come to Benavidez. No holding, no dancing and certainly no running. Just mano a mano. Could Benavidez ask for a better style matchup? Could the fans? Size could be a problem for Munguia, though. He made his debut as a full-fledged 168-pounder in June, when he struggled to beat veteran Sergey Derevyanchenko by a unanimous decision. Like Andrade, he evidently is still growing into the division. That disadvantage could lead to unpleasant fate if he were to meet Benavidez any time soon. Still, this matchup of two sluggers in their primes is appealing to say the least.
DMITRY BIVOL (21-0, 11 KOs)
Benavidez hasn’t indicated that he wants to move up to 175 pounds immediately but a fascinating – and dangerous – option can be found there. Alvarez learned the hard way how good Bivol is when he challenged the Russian titleholder in May of last year, losing a clear decision. Indeed, moving up in weight to face a fighter as skillful as Bivol can be suicide. Would Benavidez fare any better than Alvarez? Well, he’s taller and naturally heavier than Alvarez. That would help. And he might have a better style for Bivol. Slick boxers sometimes have trouble with pressure fighters who don’t allow them room to operate, the tactic Benavidez uses against his opponents. Still, it would be a very difficult fight for Benavidez. And that might be one reason he would take it. He believes he’s destined to be remembered as a great fighter. Great fighters take great risks.
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