David Benavidez has plenty of options after becoming a three-weight world champion, but he says Dmitry Bivol is now the only fight he is focused on.
Benavidez recently moved up to cruiserweight and stopped Gilberto Ramirez in the sixth round to win the WBA and WBO titles, while still holding the WBC light heavyweight belt. That has left him linked with Jai Opetaia at cruiserweight and Oleksandr Usyk at heavyweight, but Benavidez says neither is on his mind right now.
Speaking on The Porter Way Podcast, Benavidez made his target clear. “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 added: “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 has not fought since defeating Artur Beterbiev in February 2025, but he is scheduled to return later this month against Michael Eifert. If Bivol wins, a fight with Benavidez would become one of the biggest available matchups around 175lbs.
There is still one possible complication: Beterbiev. Bivol and Beterbiev have already shared the ring twice in undisputed fights, and Eddie Hearn has said a loose agreement for a trilogy could take priority over other options.
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