Artur Beterbiev has become the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion in decades. He won a majority decision against Dmitry Bivol in a fight that went the distance - a first for Beterbiev in his 21-bout career.
The decision has sparked widespread debate since the fight ended. Many fans and experts are calling for an immediate rematch, while other contenders like David Benavidez are waiting for their shot at the titles.
Jose Benavidez Sr, father and trainer of David Benavidez, shared his thoughts on the fight in an interview with Pro Box TV. He said:
"To me, it was a very close fight. A very entertaining fight. But nobody really got hurt. So, in my opinion, I think it could've been a draw. I had Bivol winning by maybe one point, but at the end of the day I'm not a judge."
When asked about his preferred opponent for his son, Benavidez Sr leaned towards Bivol. He explained:
"They're different styles. I always said I wanted to fight Bivol because he beat Canelo. He beat Zurdo Ramirez. So this would be the third Mexican he would be facing, that would make it more interesting … Beterbiev, he's a dangerous fighter, don't get me wrong. I would love to fight him tomorrow. But at the end of the day, Canelo didn't want to fight David, but if he beats Bivol we beat the one that beat the one. To me that's more satisfying and more interesting. But either or, we can definitely fight."
Benavidez Sr didn't seem worried about a potential rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol affecting their plans. He stated:
"I don't think about that. We're not frustrated. We do what we do. Timing is everything. If it's meant to be it's meant to be, if not why chase something that's never gonna happen? He's young, he's 27-years-old. We gotta be patient. There's no frustration. David's doing good, getting paid very well."
As for David Benavidez's next fight, his father revealed plans for a bout with David Morrell, expected in January 2025. He said:
"David's next fight is David Morrell. Everyone is super excited about it. We've been trying to make that fight for three years but I believe David Morrell needed a little more experience to show the world that he deserves this fight."
Benavidez recently made a successful debut in the light-heavyweight division, beating former Beterbiev opponent Oleksandr Gvozdyk. He's now the WBC mandatory challenger, waiting for his shot at the newly crowned undisputed champion.
