Beterbiev makes interesting claims about Benavidez.
David Benavidez has been seen as one of the best fighters in the world for a while now, but it was only after his performance last month that his name really started to be spoken of as up there with the most dominant pound-for-pound forces currently active.
For it was in early May that the American pulled apart Gilberto Ramirez, becoming the unified cruiserweight champion in his first fight in the division. And at the same time, he also holds the WBC title at light-heavyweight.
This is in addition to two separate title reigns at super-middleweight, the division he left behind to seek opportunities at a higher poundage. And while he has a few options at cruiserweight, he has also stated that he will be going back down to light-heavyweight.
It is in the 175-pound division where the two-headed hydra of Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev lie, seen as the consensus number one and two of the class. The pair have collided on two occasions in gargantuan affairs.
Benavidez has spoken of his desire to face both fighters a number of times, and fans have been hoping that at least one of the encounters will come to fruition soon.
However, Beterbiev has now made some very interesting claims in a recent interview, stating that Benavidez has already turned down a fight with him.
Talking to Match TV, the Russian stated (in a translated quote), “Benavidez is the kind of guy who talks a lot more than he does, but it must be said that he’s being handled very skillfully. He’s already a world champion in three weight classes, but his boxing is dirty and some of his victories are certainly questionable.
“He had a fight with Anthony Yarde, and I agreed to fight him after that. His team apparently didn’t expect me to agree so quickly, so they immediately changed their mind and chose Ramirez. That was a year ago.
“Generally, this has become the norm in boxing. Sometimes, I’ll box. Sometimes, I won’t. Choosing opponents–‘I like this one. I don’t like that one.’ I have a different mentality–that’s foreign to me.”
No doubt some very curious claims, and it remains to be seen if anything will come of them. Nevertheless, fans await the next steps for both men, with Beterbiev slated for a trilogy with Bivol later in the year and Benavidez having been ordered for a three-belt battle with Noel Mikaelian.
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