Benavidez’s Most Likely Next Fight

David Benavidez’s (32-0, 26 KOs) next fight will likely take place at cruiserweight according to his father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., who revealed a unification bout against WBC champ Noel Mikaelian (28-3, 12KOs) is emerging as the top opponent option.

Benavidez last fought on May 2, stopping Gilberto Ramirez in the sixth-round stoppage to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight belts and become a three-division world champion. Benavidez’s plan was to return to light-heavyweight, where he holds the WBC title, to face unified champion Dmitry Bivol.

Bivol, however, appears to be leaning towards a trilogy with Artur Beterbiev, and also faces a mandatory obligation in Callum Smith, leaving the Benavidez camp searching for alternatives. Jose Benavidez Sr. confirmed that the teams of Bivol, Beterbiev and former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia have all gone silent.

“I’m trying to make these fights. I even told David, These guys are not responding. Let’s fight Mikaelian.’ That’s not a fight that really interests me. I’m just trying to make these fights with whoever is available,” Benavidez Sr.