After Sharing The Ring With Both Dmitry Bivol Delivers Honest Verdict On Canelo vs Benavidez

Dmitry Bivol is soon to get a shot at becoming the undisputed light heavyweight champion. If he wins, David Benavidez is first in line to face him.

In his way is fearsome puncher Artur Beterbiev, the IBF, WBO and WBC champion who has a 100% knockout record having stopped all 20 of his opponents to date. He had to postpone the pair’s first fight date in June due to dental surgery and they are now set to meet on October 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In the meantime, Benavidez has moved up from super middleweight to become WBC interim light-heavyweight champion. Despite the new division and the future shot against the Bivol-Beterbiev winner, he still wants unified super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez after years of chasing. It is, fans agree, one of the best match-ups in the sport.

Canelo is no stranger to the move up to 175 himself, having beaten Sergey Kovalev but fallen short against Bivol.

Bivol – who has shared tough sparring sessions with Benavidez in the past – was asked by FightHype what might happen should Canelo finally agree to the fight – and he says it’s a pure 50/50 contest.

“That’s an interesting fight.

I think 50-50 fight. Benavidez is not an easy fighter at all you know and he could make a lot of problems for Canelo.”

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With Benavidez moving up to light-heavyweight, Bivol is open to a clash against the ‘Mexican Monster’, but said his main focus is getting all the belts against Beterbiev.

“It could be a great fight, why not, but my goal is to fight for belts.”

Canelo’s next fight is in September when he defends against Edgar Berlanga. Should he win, Benavidez may well then get his shot at the Mexican, though many think ‘Canelo’ is running scared.