Shakur Stevenson, the WBC lightweight champion, has shared his thoughts on a potential fight between Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez in the light heavyweight division. The three-weight world champion offered his insight during a recent interview on Cigar Talk.
Stevenson's comments come after Bivol's impressive victory over Artur Beterbiev on February 22 in Riyadh. The win made Bivol the undisputed light heavyweight champion and avenged his first career defeat from October. On the same card, Stevenson defended his WBC lightweight title against late replacement Josh Padley.
When asked about his preference between a Bivol-Beterbiev trilogy or a Bivol-Benavidez fight, Stevenson leaned towards the latter. He explained his reasoning to Cigar Talk:
"I think Beterbiev deserves the trilogy because of the first fight. But I think Bivol won the first fight. I think Benavidez and Bivol is one of the best fights in boxing. It's gonna be really competitive."
Stevenson then offered his prediction for the potential Bivol-Benavidez matchup. He believes it will be a close fight but leans towards Bivol coming out on top. The lightweight champ acknowledged Benavidez's strengths, saying:
"I'm leaning towards Bivol, but it's gonna be close. Benavidez's pressure and his overall fighting style... he's a beast."
Benavidez recently extended his undefeated record to 30-0 with a unanimous decision victory over David Morrell on February 1. The win solidified his status as the WBC 'Interim' champion at 175lbs and further established him as one of boxing's brightest stars.
Bivol's recent victory over Beterbiev has set the stage for exciting possibilities in the light heavyweight division. While a trilogy fight with Beterbiev remains an option, the potential clash with Benavidez has caught the attention of fans and fellow fighters alike.
As the boxing world eagerly awaits Bivol's next move, Stevenson's insights offer an intriguing perspective on the potential matchups at light heavyweight. The coming months will likely reveal which direction the division will take and whether fans will get to see the Bivol-Benavidez showdown that has Stevenson and others so excited.
