Chris Eubank Sr. thinks David Benavidez is the best boxer in the world right now. The former two-weight world champion shared his opinion in a recent interview.
Eubank Sr., who held titles at middleweight and super-middleweight, was asked about the top fighter on the planet during an appearance on the Call Chris Eubank show. His answer might surprise some fans.
"In my view, and has been for most certainly four or five years, the name is David Benavidez. His ability is outstanding. You look at him and if you love boxing, you know boxing, are a connoisseur of boxing, you'd say I'm privileged to be alive in the time this man is boxing."
Eubank Sr. knows a thing or two about boxing. He was a formidable puncher with slick defenses during his career. He beat top fighters like Nigel Benn and Michael Watson before losing to Steve Collins. He competed in what many call a golden era of British boxing.
The former champ had high praise for Benavidez, comparing him to one of boxing's all-time greats.
"David Benavidez, you really are something. The reason many haven't heard his name is really he is far too good for his own good. For anyone with any sense, stay well away from him. You're talking about a modern-day Mike Tyson, in a way."
Benavidez, known as "The Mexican Monster," is a former two-time super middleweight champion. He's known for his relentless pressure fighting style. He's moved up to light-heavyweight and is now the interim WBC champion in that division.
Eubank Sr. shared a story about a conversation with a US promoter. When asked about a potential fight between his son and Benavidez, Eubank's response was short and clear: "Who? No." This reaction suggests he sees Benavidez as too dangerous an opponent.
Benavidez has long chased a fight with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, but it never happened. Now, he's set his sights on bigger challenges. He's scheduled for a high-stakes bout against David Morrell. If he wins, he'll likely face the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch, set for February. His goal? To become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion.
While many boxing fans might name fighters like Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, or Naoya Inoue as the best pound-for-pound boxer, Eubank Sr. stands firm in his belief that Benavidez deserves that title more than anyone else right now.
