David Benavidez has a huge choice to make after his debut win at 175lbs.
Benavidez made his first appearance at light-heavyweight as the chief support to Gervonta Davis’ clash with Frank Martin, taking on Ukrainian star Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
And the former super-middleweight world champion secured a win in routine fashion, picking up a unanimous decision victory while hardly breaking a sweat.
His victory saw him secure the WBC ‘interim’ belt at the new weight, which makes him the mandatory challenger for a shot at the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol, which takes place on October 12.
Benavidez already holds the WBC ‘interim’ belt in his original division, which positions him as mandatory for Canelo Alvarez and will now have to choose which one to keep.
And despite securing his maiden win at 175lbs, ‘La Bandera Roja’ is still targeting a switch back to super-middleweight to face long-term rival Canelo.
The Mexican previously suggested it would take an offer of up to $200 million to entice him into the ring against Benavidez.
But he is confident he can lure the pound-for-pound superstar into a huge showdown before the end of 2024.
He said: “I think I was a 7 out of 10. But now we are looking to move on.
“We are still looking to go back down, whether that it is against Canelo and we can get him. But I am looking to fight at both weight classes.”
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In his latest outing, the 27-year-old looked lively early on and started to push the early pace against the experienced and rugged Ukrainian in the opening round.
Benavidez was boxing well through three frames, but Gvozdyk was proving a tricky customer and was firing away at any point that the exchanges opened up.
The favourite began to open up in the fourth landing some thumping shots including a stiff right hand, which signalled a shift in Gvozdyk’s demeanour.
He continued to build on his momentum in the fifth, landing well over double the amount of total power punches to his rival as the midway point approached.
Benavidez was taking to his new challenge like a duck in water after piling on weight, and continued to dominate with Gvozdyk content to just simply remain competitive.
Fatigue appeared to set in with three rounds to go, but Benavidez was comfortably dictating the exchanges.
But he routinely made the final bell, taking control from start to finish, and securing the win on the judges’s scorecards.
The officials saw it scored at 116-112, 117-111, 119-109.
Saudi boxing chief H.E. Turki Alalshikh has backed the alternative plan at 175lbs for the star, offering to stage his mandatory shot in Saudi Arabia.
But a fight with Alvarez will always remain a huge draw, and the big clamour for the boxing world.
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