David Benavidez has consistently proven throughout his professional boxing career that he is not afraid of any challenge put in front of him, welcoming elite opponents and moving up through weight classes with a fearless mentality. However, one rumored future opponent is now publicly hoping that the American star hasn’t been scared off from what promises to be a thrilling, high-stakes battle.
Known widely by his fearsome moniker “The Mexican Monster,” Benavidez previously reigned as a dominant force and WBC light-heavyweight champion. Earlier this year, however, he made a massive, statement-making 25-pound jump from 175 pounds all the way up to 200 pounds. The purpose of this significant weight shift was to challenge Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for his unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles. In that highly anticipated showdown, Benavidez delivered an emphatic, statement-making knockout victory to claim both belts and announce his arrival in the cruiserweight division in the most dramatic fashion possible.
Now, as he looks ahead to his upcoming schedule, Benavidez faces a mandatory defense against Michal Cieslak scheduled for December. Should the newly crowned unified champion come through that test unscathed, he has already laid out an ambitious roadmap for his career. Benavidez recently revealed a targeted three-fight plan that outlines some of the most lucrative and legacy-defining bouts possible in modern boxing. This high-profile hit list includes a potential undisputed title showdown against reigning cruiserweight powerhouse Jai Opetaia, a blockbuster clash with Artur Beterbiev, and a possible eventual move up to the heavyweight division.
When discussing the proposed battle with former undisputed light-heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev during a recent interview, Benavidez offered a mix of high praise and playful banter. Speaking to The Ring, Benavidez admitted that he respects the veteran powerhouse for actively pursuing a fight against him, though he could not resist poking fun at Beterbiev’s advanced boxing age by jokingly referring to him as “45 years old.”
“Beterbiev has definitely reached out to our team. He’s actively been trying to make that fight. We want to give him what he wants. You know, I respect Beterbiev. He’s about 45 years old, and the fact he’s calling me out, I have great respect for him,” Benavidez said.
It did not take long for Beterbiev to catch wind of the interview and the playful age jab from his younger rival. Never one to back down from a war of words or a physical challenge in the gym, Beterbiev—who is actually 41 years old rather than the 45 jokingly suggested by Benavidez—took to social media to respond. The undefeated knockout artist posted a rigorous training clip onto his official Instagram account, showcasing his relentless training regimen and unwavering physical condition. In the caption accompanying the video, Beterbiev fired back with a witty remark aimed squarely at Benavidez’s comments, writing, “I hope nobody was scared off by my ‘45-year-old’ physique!”
The playful online back-and-forth has only served to dial up the excitement among boxing fans and pundits who are eager to see the two destructive punchers collide in the squared circle. Beterbiev, who boasts an astonishing 90 percent knockout ratio accumulated across his 22 professional fights, remains one of the most feared and respected competitors in the history of the sport, known for breaking down opponents with brutal pressure and concussive power.
Before a mega-fight with Benavidez can officially materialize, however, Beterbiev has other massive business to attend to in the light-heavyweight division. The veteran champion is currently being touted for a highly anticipated light-heavyweight trilogy bout against his fierce career rival, Dmitry Bivol, following Bivol’s upcoming fight against Smith. A victory in that potential trilogy rubber match could pave the way and successfully tee up a mammoth meeting between Beterbiev and Benavidez, which industry insiders suggest could land somewhere in the mid-to-late 2027 timeframe.
