Teddy Atlas Wants David Benavidez To Face Winner Of Beterbiev Vs. Smith

By Fight Sports May 26, 2022 Last updated May 26, 2022

The boxing Hall of Famer, Teddy Atlas, is tired of seeing David Benavidez destroying the competitors in the 168-lb division. According to him, Benavidez should move to the 175-lb division and look to face the winner of the light heavyweight unification fight between Artur Beterbiev and Joe Smith. Atlas also believes Benavidez could take on Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramírez before going to 175-lb division.

The undefeated Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) was at his absolute best when he faced the former IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux at Gila River Arena in Glendale this past Saturday. The Phoenix native started at a high pace, landing some devastating punches on the head of the Canadian fighter.

The fight was called off in the third round after the referee in charge, Harvey Dock, had seen enough, waving off the fight with 1:31 remaining in the round, saving Lemieux from further punishment.

After the fight, Benavidez openly called out Canelo Alvarez for a showdown at 168. But if that fight doesn’t come to fruition, the other options in-store for him include the likes of Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo, and David Morrell Jr.

But Atlas, who has trained 18 world champions as a boxing coach, thinks otherwise. Atlas believes that Benavidez has already cleaned out the 168-lb division and that there is no one in the division who can confront the 25-year-old at this stage of his career.

“Benavidez had a guy in there with him where he couldn’t help but look good,” said Teddy Atlas to The Fight about last Saturday’s third-round knockout of Benavidez over Lemieux.

“Yeah, he looked good against a guy that was there to look good with that was made to order for Benavidez. I’m not saying, ‘Don’t like Benavidez.’ I like him,” said Atlas. “I don’t want to see Benavidez with these kinds of guys. I want to see him fight other guys.

“I wouldn’t mind him fighting Gilberto Ramirez. People forgot about that guy. “He was already a super middleweight champion, so we know he came come back down. He moved up to light heavyweight Gilberto Ramirez.”