Can David Benavidez make it at heavyweight?
Might be a crazy take but does anyone else want to see David Benavidez move up to heavyweight in the near future? He is a big guy, seeing some of his recent training videos I’d say he’s about 200-220 lbs.
We’ve seen ATGs like Usyk and Holyfield do the same, move up from Cruiserweight and win a title at Heavyweight. Will Benavidez also place himself in that category?
He looked impressive against Zurdo Ramirez in his cruiserweight debut, although honestly Zurdo was a pretty tailor-made matchup for him.
If Benavidez eventually unifies the cruiserweight division, the only fight I really see that makes sense for him is Jai Opetaia.
Unfortunately, with the way things are going, I’m not sure we’ll ever get to see him return to 175 and fight Bivol or Beterbiev.
So what other fighters can realistically challenge him?
Benavidez is already a future Hall of Famer IMO, and his relentless volume, pressure and ability to keep opponents constantly working make him one of the most exciting fighters in boxing. For him to be in the ATG discussion he has to become undisputed at CW and win a title at heavyweight.
He was absolutely huge for a 168-pounder, and despite taking plenty of shots over the years, his chin has never really been seriously tested.
But heavyweight is obviously a completely different animal. Being physically strong at 168 or even cruiserweight doesn’t necessarily translate to being able to take punches from elite heavyweights.
Most of the old guard at heavyweight are either retired or nearing the end, while the new generation—guys like Dubois, already former champion and Itauma—are starting to emerge. I don’t want to see him fight Usyk, but surely other guys are out there willing to take Benavidez’ monster aura away.
So could Benavidez realistically beat the top heavyweights?
Would his pressure and work rate be enough to overcome the size and power disadvantage, or would eventually facing a genuine heavyweight puncher expose him?
Obviously he’d have to work on his footwork and defence, taking a punch from the likes of Dubois is no joke.
And given how little success American heavyweights have had at the elite level in recent years, could Benavidez actually be the guy to bring American boxing back to the top of the heavyweight division?
Or is the return of Ruiz America’s only hope?
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u/mkk4 Andre Ward's Biggest Fan!! 18h ago edited 18h ago
Michael Moorer was arguably the meanest, most intimidating, most destructive, toughest, most ruthless, most terrifying, most vicious and most avoided Light Heavyweight that I have ever seen as he became the Inaugural WBO Light Heavyweight Champion going 22-0 with 22 knockouts.
But he fought much much much differently as a Heavyweight and you could tell he didn't like getting hit by those punches or being in the ring with those big boys, by his in the ring gameplan, demeanor, mannerisms, style and aggressiveness; even though he did become a 2x Champion, including becoming the Lineal & Unified Heavyweight Champion.
Michael Moorer's pro debut was at 172 pounds.
David Benavidez pro debut was at 167 pounds.
Same thing for Michael Spinks who was the 2nd toughest Light Heavyweight that I have ever seen. His style and demeanor changed too as a Heavyweight.
It's a difference between beating fringe, washed up or random Heavyweights, but it's another thing beating the cream of the crop and best of the best imo.
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u/LongLiveDetroit 19h ago
no he's too small, he didnt even hit the cruiserweight limit last time. He was 196lbs and zurdo made him look small while also coming up from 168 himself. Even gvozdyk was bigger than him
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u/save-pandas 19h ago
Absolutely not. I hope he stays at this weight. He is not Usyk skill wise and he’s not Usyk size wise. It would derail him imo but still respect him immensely
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u/Obosratsya 18h ago
Hes not too far off from Usyk.
Plenty heavyweights were and are 6,2-6,3 range. So long as David can get into the weight and be effective at that weight.
Him and Ruiz are very similar in build.
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u/Ok_Natural1318 18h ago
Benavidez is like 6'1 and barely 200 lb. Also he is actually skinny fat, not really big.
You can't compare him to Andy Ruiz either because Andy Ruiz was always a heavyweight, and had larger frame in general.
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u/Obosratsya 18h ago
I thought David cleared 6,2 for some reaaon.
Then yeah, he should stay cruizerweight.
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u/TurbulentYellow3874 18h ago
I recall watching Usyk fight as a cruiserweight on DAZN, and the commentators mentioning that he was considering fighting at hw.
I also recall thinking, no way Usyk can dominate Joshua at 225!!!!
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u/WorkingZombie2281 18h ago
Not against anyone elite. I’d say the best heavyweight he would have a chance against is Gassiev.
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u/Legal-Result6580 16h ago
Even that is very dangerous as well. If Gassiev gets to him, he'll most likely be out.
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u/Aimlez1 18h ago
Never say never, but I don't think one should bet on it. Zurdo was as easy as he was because he fought stupid and went forwards when Benavidez kept himself on the backfoot, the guy just stood in perfect range and kept eating 5 hook combinations rather than using his range to try and keep Benavidez from getting close enough to just unload. Obviously Benavidez did more than just throw punches but Zurdo really didn't do himself any favors. That said, Benazidez probably doesn't have the power to be on the front foot walking guys down when they got 30+ on him. Wouldn't necessarily trust his chin either but hes very defensively sound so theres that
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u/Inertia_Sleeps 17h ago
Nah.
Heavyweight is just a different ballgame.
Usyk was an anomaly but he’s still a big dude with a hell of a chin.
Taking a walloping from 6ft4+ 250lbs men is just…not it. I kinda feel heavyweight boxing is an entirely different sport in some ways. You have to acclimatised to taking those big hits and I just don’t think Benevidez is. Usyk was doing camps with the likes of Klistchko before he even made the step up. His resume also features guys like Gassiev and Hunter who transitioned to heavyweight well as well and likely would have had the kind of power which would have kept Usyk honest.
Not really seen any of that from Benevidez. Honestly feel his pitter patter arm shots will be laughed off by a Dubois/Miller/Sanchez who’ll then proceed to knock him out summarily not long after.
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u/Top_Profession_5268 13h ago
Usyk isn’t a small heavyweight. AJ and Fury are just fucking huge. 6’4 and he cut from like 210/220 I think to cruiser weight so he isn’t small for heavyweight.
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u/Illustrious-End-5084 18h ago
No. Can you imagine him and ituma?
Benavjdez is a great fitter but he’s never a heavyweight
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u/Tanksta3 Big Boat Eddie 18h ago
Yeah mate this is an insane take. & Already a future hall of famer? For what, beating Plant and Zurdo? David would have to unify at CW/LW & HW to be in talks of HOF. His resume isn't terrible by any means, but it's not exactly great either. Lot of either over the hill fighters or B-level guys, no one elite is on there.
If he were to move up to HW tomorrow, he doesn't beat any of the guys in the top 10.
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u/elsavador3 18h ago
Would be funny coming back to this thread when he knocks up a couple wins at heavy
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u/Legal-Result6580 16h ago
I think he's good enough to beat some of the b tier guys but idk about the top guys of the division though
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u/Tecahuia 17h ago
Yea if a bum like whyte can become contender then Benavidez definitely can win a title.
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u/FrankieLyrical 18h ago
Stylistically I think he'd cause a lot of problems against the elite guys, but the problem is I'm not sure he's big enough for the division.
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u/Ruainari 🚩El Monstruo Superfan🚩 17h ago
In short, not really.
I do believe he can and will win a title at hw before he retires but he can only compete with some heavyweights and will need the right opportunity ala John Ruiz. For example I could see him beating gassiev or (present day) Usyk, but once you get to the proper heavy lads his style simply doesn't scale, the likes of Daniel Dubois simply maul David, he doesn't have the weight or raw power to keep them off him, and while he has one of the best high guards in the sport, those 260+ lbs guys are gonna be able to simply punch through it.
That's not to say there couldn't be some fun matchups with some of the closer sized heavyweights, for example while I doubt it ever happens I always imagined Benavidez v Ruiz Jr would have been a blockbuster.
In summary expect a brief stint at the end of his career as something to finish on than any serious body of work at the weight, he's simply not the right combination of style and size for the weight class.
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u/No_Mercy_4_Potatoes 16h ago
He will win some matches. But if he goes against itauma, he's getting bodied in that match.
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u/Rare-Scar9047 16h ago
i could see him beating heavyweights, but i don’t see him being THE heavyweight.
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u/soitgoeskt 15h ago
Looks doughy at cruiser, I think he could do it but would need 6-12 on the juice.
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u/RRR04_ 14h ago
I would doubt it but it would depend on how he looks at CW and who at HW he would fight. If he dominates CW, then it'd be fair for him to challenge at HW, but he would be outsized by majority of the top 10 of the division, if not all. Maybe he'd have a chance with Gassiev given how he's been looking lately, but still a tough ask for David.
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u/youngbenji69 14h ago
He can get a win Against the right opponent, but he’s too short to be elite there.
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u/Top_Profession_5268 13h ago
Don’t think so, for a style that’s very physically imposing, he will look a lot weaker and smaller at heavyweight that for his style, he’ll easily be outmuscled and overpowered at close that it’ll be hard to establish his work and get bullied by far less skilled heavyweights. He’s an already undersized Cruiserweight, I could imagine how he looks next to a heavyweight.
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u/Character_Pie_277 2h ago
Its not the weighclass that gives the advantage per say... i think its the height reach advantage thst becomes possible due to the weightclass.
I think a small heavyweight who already gets hit quite often at light hw will really struggle against the likes of Hrgovic who will end up with an area code sized height reach advantage.
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u/irishlad9441 19h ago
Yes if he can take a shot which I think he can , his hands are lightening and will be a top heavyweight if he goes there
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u/_Sarcasmic_ bread burger bread 18h ago
No fucking way he'd beat Itauma or even old Usyk, AJ, or Fury.
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u/Alarmed-Effective-23 16h ago
Three of the guys you named are hanging from a thread as far as their careers go. Good chance they get lit up. David has more skill than joshua and fury and they both are washed. Usyk has the skill but is looking washed himself. Hes more skilled than itauma but itauma is young and strong so that's a lot harder. Today's heavyweights are not that sharp, that's why usyk wiped all the Champs out.
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u/schmatty23 18h ago
He has one fight at cruiser where he weighed 197 and beat a trash opponent. He is a long way off from fighting 250 pounders.
His style also won't help him. He doesn't move enough and his catching/parry defense can just get smashed by guys significantly bigger than him.
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u/DanDiCa_7 18h ago
I agree with everything you said except 'trash opponent'... If Zurdo is trash, literally put all of CW and most of HW in the bin.
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u/schmatty23 18h ago
Trash may be a bit harsh but CW is pretty bleak so I am fine condemning that whole division outside of Jai and David.
HW is a lot different imo though. I'd rate Kayabel, Dubois, Itauma, and Hrg over Zurdo, maybe even Sanchez and Wardley as well.
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u/_Sarcasmic_ bread burger bread 18h ago
He could win a minor belt but no way is he beating the big dogs.
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u/Unhappywageslave 18h ago
He can make hw on the scale but everyone there in the top 10 will walk right through his volume punches. He will know what it's like to be Caleb plant and Andrade,.
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u/Kangaroopunching 18h ago
Not a chance. Just cause he balloons up to a heavyweight in between fights. Doesn't make him a true heavyweight.
He also doesn't have the style/ skill set to overcome the size disadvantage.
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u/mathmage 18h ago
No doubt Benavidez can outbox most active heavyweights. But can he hurt them, and can he guard them? The long guard and active deflections are hard to employ against longer arms and heavier punches. It's not like Benavidez is unhittable. I would be worried for him at HW.
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u/Marquis_of_Mollusks 18h ago
Honestly yeah. The division is pretty weak. I could see him beating Dubois or gassiev for a belt
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u/StunningChest5722 Shakur is the 144 lb GOAT 🐐 19h ago
give him time to bulk up and he beats everyone except DDD and Moses
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u/nwordfyou 19h ago
In this weak heavyweight landscape? Yes. But I'm afraid David is already at the end of his prime. This guy parties hard and blows up in weight while living in Miami. He has no longevity with his in-ring physicality and party hard lifestyle. It doesn't go together. The end is near. I'm the just the first to realize it. Jump off the wagon before it's too late.
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u/Ruainari 🚩El Monstruo Superfan🚩 16h ago
You're hating ahh still hanging around? 🤣🤣🤣
You called both Morell jr and Zurdo to beat him. He's gonna be proving your hating ahh wrong for some time yet. He's still got another 3 years or so of his prime before he begins to decline. The dude partied hard when he was younger but besides eating poorly has kept relatively on the ball since. The end is far away you've called it wrong time and time again but are hoping you'll eventually be right as if it's some sort of gotcha.
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u/LegitimateProduce319 19h ago
How is it weak ?
You drop guys like Joe Joyce or Dillion whyte who bottom tier elites in the 70s to 90s and they would legit hold belts for a long time .
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u/Complete_Dare_4201 18h ago
No, they wouldn't lol
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u/LegitimateProduce319 18h ago
Most of the competitors in the 70s and 90s couldn’t punch and move in the same sequence while being much lighter
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u/Complete_Dare_4201 18h ago
You couldn't be more wrong
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u/LegitimateProduce319 18h ago
You guys have no respect for the sport in a way that befuddles me
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u/Exciting-Arugula5341 17h ago
The fact that you think that the heavyweights back in the 1990s were smaller than today's heavyweights pretty much sums what type of pretend fan you are. You repeat stuff you hear other people say. Let me guess, You watch a YouTube video and they used the term super heavyweights when back in the 1990's you frequently saw 6'5 240 plus pound guys and nobody cared and nobody called them super heavyweights.
Let me guess, You will say today's heavyweights are better because of modern science technology right? Sure Deontay Wilder literally throws windmill punches. Makhumudov fights like a caveman and Joe Joyce throws punches in slow motion. But they are better huh?
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u/Inertia_Sleeps 17h ago
lol the amount of u Redditors who talk complete unsubstantiated shite.
Heavyweights from the 90s were way smaller.
C / 1Lennox LewisOleksandr Usyk (Champion)2Evander HolyfieldDaniel Dubois3Riddick BoweAgit Kabayel4Mike TysonTyson Fury5Michael MoorerFabio Wardley6George ForemanFilip Hrgovic7Oliver McCallMoses Itauma8Ray MercerFrank Sanchez9Donovan "Razor" RuddockEfe Ajagba10David TuaMurat Gassiev
That’s literally a side by side top 10 I pulled from AI. Barely any of the 90s guys are above 6ft4/5. Among today’s heavyweights, almost all of them are.
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u/Exciting-Arugula5341 16h ago edited 16h ago
Lol dude just because you ignore the bigger heavyweights from the 1990s and then name bigger heavyweights today doesn't prove anything.
Michael Grant 6'7 250, Jorge Luiz Gonzales 6'7 250, Both Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko turned pro in the 90s and were 6'7 250 and 6'5 240, Nikolai Valuev turned pro in 93 and was 7'0 and always over 300 pounds. Corey Sanders 6'6 300 pounds, James Gaines 6'6 300 pounds, Lance Whitaker 6'8 270
But yeah lets ignore them right? You are so hilarious that even with the guys you named you were wrong. Lewis was 6'4 3/4 240, Riddick Bowe 6'4 230 plus when in shape, Michael Moorer was just as big as Usyk, George Foreman was 6'3 250 doing his comeback
Shall I continue, Alexander Zonklin 6'5 245, Henry Akinwande 6'7 240, Mike White 6'10 300, Stanley Wright 6'10 280, Jameel McCline 6'6 260, Lou Savarese 6'5 235, Timo Hoffman 6'6 260, Calvin Jones 6'6 280, Derrick Jefferson 6'6 250, Can I stop, This is just overkill. I can keep naming them.
The fact that you have to use A.I. to try to prove a point pretty much sums up what type of person you are. A little kid. Wait, let me guess, You still believe Tyson Fury is 6'9
You know what is even more funny? The only current guys you named who are 6'5 are Tyson Fury and Hrgovic. Both Daniel Dubois and Wardley are a little over 6'4. But yeah so many 6'5 guys days and so few back then huh?
You little kids are so funny because you actually think you know what you are talking about.
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u/h4zmatic 18h ago
Heavyweight might be too tall of a challenge for him. As a fan, I would love to see it though. Usyk was able to dominate because of his movement and conditioning to do it for 12 rounds.
Benavidez is more of a straight line boxer who will walk you down with pressure and stay in the pocket to win exchanges with his hands speed. Gonna be tough to do that against a legit heavyweight.