Benavidez Proves He's #1, But Bivol-Beterbiev Trilogy Threatens To Bury The Truth

David Benavidez’s recent win against WBA ‘regular’ light heavyweight champion David Morrell should put him at the #1 spot in the 175-lb division.

When you compare that performance by Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) to what fans saw in the two recent fights between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, it’s clear that ‘The Mexican Monster’ is the #1 fighter in the 175-lb division. Benavidez and Morrell are easily the best two fighters in the light heavyweight division by a long shot now.

Trilogy Blockade

Benavidez will be shut out and not given the chance to fight Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) for his four belts at 175. It’s already been reported that Turki Alalshikh wants a trilogy match between Bivol and the recently beaten ex-undisputed light heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs).

Benavidez won’t be allowed to take his spot on the throne by facing Bivol, but he’s the best fighter in the 175-lb division. The eye test showed from his victories over the Cuban Morrell and Oleksandr Gvozdyk that he’s the #1 fighter in the division.

Turki should forget about setting up the Bivol-Beterbiev trilogy and focus on letting Benavidez fight for the undisputed light heavyweight championship. He can always make the Bivol-Beterbiev 3 match in a loser’s bracket affair after ‘The Mexican Monster’ destroys the soon-to-be 35-year-old Bivol.

Elite 175-lb Rankings

David Benavidez
David Morrell
Dmitry Bivol
Artur Beterbiev
Callum Smith
Joshua Buatsi
Willy Hutchinson
Oleksandr Gvozdyk
Anthony Yarde
Edgar Berlanga – *He SHOULD be fighting at light heavyweight

A New Era

There’s nothing wrong with the other top guys at light heavyweight, Bivol and Beterbiev, but they’re both looking old, showing signs of cracks in the facade that one typically sees in fighters their age.

The fans that watched the two fights between Dmitry and Beterbiev saw that these guys are slipping dramatically and nowhere near the younger fighters, Benavidez and Morrell, talent-wise. The high work rate, pressure, and youth of Benavidez would be too much for Bivol. Morrell’s punching power and technical ability would overwhelm Bivol or Beterbiev.