David Benavidez is feeling strong and confident as he prepares for his light heavyweight debut against former WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th. Benavidez, who has trimmed down to 188 lbs, believes he’s in peak condition and ready to showcase his full potential.
At 188 pounds, Benavidez looks solid and reflects on the physical toll of draining down to 168 lbs throughout his career. Although he should have moved to light heavyweight earlier, he lingered at super middleweight in hopes of securing a fight with Canelo Alvarez. Now, Benavidez is focused on knocking out Gvozdyk to win the WBC interim 175-lb title in their 12-round co-feature contest on the Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin card.
Despite his move to light heavyweight, Benavidez still harbors dreams of fighting Canelo and intends to return to the 168-lb division. However, this fight is crucial as a win would position him for a shot at the undisputed championship in 2025. The challenge of facing fighters his own size at 175 lbs is a significant test for Benavidez, who has predominantly fought smaller opponents at super middleweight.
Reflecting on his preparation, Benavidez shared his optimism about his upcoming bout:
“On fight week, you only lose a couple of pounds. I’m going to be extremely ready, extremely motivated, and well conditioned,” Benavidez told ESNEWS.
Benavidez is determined to deliver an impressive performance against Gvozdyk, aiming for a knockout that surpasses his previous best against Porky Medina.
“I’m hitting harder at 175. I feel like people haven’t seen the best of me. At 175, I’ll be able to showcase the best David Benavidez. I still have a lot to prove to myself. I’m not done.”
Image Credit: DAZN