Benavidez says – David Benavidez has cut through the noise about his next move, saying an undisputed-style light heavyweight clash with Dmitry Bivol is the only fight he truly wants. Benavidez recently stepped up to 200lbs to stop Gilberto Ramirez at the T-Mobile Arena, becomi
David Benavidez didn’t spend this moment talking in possibilities. He talked in certainty.
Earlier this month. the fighter known as “The Mexican Monster” moved up to 200lbs and stopped Gilberto Ramirez in the sixth round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The result made him a WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion and completed a rare jump to three-weight world champion status. Before that win, he had world honours at super middleweight and still held the WBC light heavyweight title.
With that new status. a handful of next steps quickly became the headline around him: an undisputed light heavyweight battle with Dmitry Bivol. a cruiserweight showdown with Jai Opetaia. or a move to heavyweight to face unified king Oleksandr Usyk. But when Benavidez was asked about what comes next, he drew a line in the sand.
Speaking to The Porter Way Podcast, Benavidez said, “I set these goals out for myself. Bivol is really the only fight I want, that I truly want. He has all the belts… I really want those belts. I want those accolades. That’s the only thing I want right now.”
He didn’t frame it as preference. He framed it as the assignment.
“I’m not thinking about Opetaia, I’m not thinking about none of these guys, because this is the fight I want. It makes sense for both of us.”
Bivol, though, is not waiting on a storyline. He hasn’t fought since defeating Artur Beterbiev back in February 2025. His next return is later this month, when he defends his IBF, WBA and WBO belts against Michael Eifert. If Bivol wins again. it could open the door to the kind of clash Benavidez is already treating as his one real target.
Benavidez’s name has been in Bivol’s orbit for a reason. The Russian’s trainer has recently named Benavidez as the target. saying someone needs to “shut his mouth.” That comment adds fuel to the idea of a matchup that’s not just about belts. but about ego and pressure—two fighters now orbiting the same prize.
Still, there’s a complication that can’t be waved away by desire alone. Artur Beterbiev is the potential obstacle, having twice starred in undisputed fights with Bivol already. And promoter Eddie Hearn has said a loose agreement to honour a trilogy would take precedence over any other match-ups for his man. Bivol.
So the situation tightens around one question: Benavidez says there is only one fight he wants right now. Bivol’s next steps may still depend on whether the sport’s unfinished business has to be completed first.
David Benavidez Dmitry Bivol Gilberto Ramirez T-Mobile Arena Michael Eifert Artur Beterbiev Eddie Hearn Jai Opetaia Oleksandr Usyk boxing news IBF WBA WBO belts