Artur Beterbiev and David Benavidez, two of boxing's top light-heavyweight stars, have both admitted they can't beat Oleksandr Usyk. The fighters shared their thoughts after Usyk's impressive victory over Daniel Dubois on July 19.
Beterbiev, who recently became the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion by defeating Dmitry Bivol, didn't mince words when talking about Usyk. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, he said:
"No, he's too strong for me you know. He's like heavyweight you know it's too strong even if he came back down. He's too strong [even at cruiserweight], too good."
Beterbiev's honesty comes after a rollercoaster few months. He lost his rematch with Bivol shortly after becoming undisputed champion, making his assessment of Usyk all the more telling.
David Benavidez, the 28-year-old from Arizona who recently moved up to 175lbs, echoed similar sentiments. Benavidez captured the WBC interim world title last year and was elevated to full WBC champion in April after Dmitry Bivol vacated the crown.
Despite his success, Benavidez doesn't see himself matching up well against Usyk. In a candid conversation with Fightype, he explained:
"To be honest with you I have to deal with these monsters in this weight class first. Usyk [at cruiserweight]? I don't think I have enough experience to go up against Usyk. I'm just being 100% honest… I have tremendous respect for Usyk and he's the greatest of all time."
Benavidez will defend his WBC title for the first time against Anthony Yarde on November 22, showing he's got plenty on his plate in the light-heavyweight division.
Usyk, at 38, continues to dominate. His fifth-round stoppage of Dubois at Wembley Stadium cemented his status as the greatest heavyweight of his generation. Before the Dubois fight, Usyk had plans to return to cruiserweight and attempt to become undisputed champion there again. However, his future remains uncertain, with retirement rumors swirling.
The respect Beterbiev and Benavidez show for Usyk speaks volumes about the Ukrainian's skill and power. As the boxing world waits to see what Usyk does next, it's clear that even the sport's top stars see him as a cut above the rest.
