Saudi Promoter Eyeing Benavidez vs. Bivol – Beterbiev Winner for December
David Benavidez could potentially face the winner of the upcoming undisputed light heavyweight championship fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in December, thanks to the assistance of Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh.
Alalshikh believes it is more feasible for Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) to take on the Bivol-Beterbiev victor in December rather than pursuing a match with Canelo Alvarez, who has set a high price tag of $150-200 million for a fight against ‘The Mexican Monster’.
The prospect of Benavidez going up against Bivol or Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) has piqued the interest of boxing fans in the United States. A showdown between Benavidez and Beterbiev, in particular, would be intriguing to witness how the former copes with the power of the undefeated unified light heavyweight champion.
Will Benavidez be able to withstand Beterbiev’s devastating punching power, or will he join the long list of previous opponents who have succumbed to the unified 175-pound champion?
Rematch Clause an Obstacle
One potential hurdle that Alalshikh may encounter in materializing this matchup is the existence of a rematch clause in the Bivol-Beterbiev fight contract. Nonetheless, Alalshikh envisions Benavidez facing the winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev encounter in a bout before their potential rematch.
However, if Benavidez were to defeat the winner of the initial fight, it could diminish the appeal of a Bivol-Beterbiev rematch, rendering it almost obsolete.
A New Direction for Benavidez
With his aspirations of fighting Canelo dashed due to the staggering price demands, Benavidez is now setting his sights on becoming a two-division world champion.
The Saudi promoters seem unwilling to entertain Canelo’s monetary requests, which is understandable given the exorbitant sum he is seeking to face Benavidez.
Attempting to orchestrate a bout between Canelo and Benavidez under such financial conditions would pose a significant challenge for the Saudis and could potentially set a precedent for other fighters demanding similar purses.
Summary:
Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh is exploring the possibility of David Benavidez taking on the winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev bout in December, as an alternative to facing Canelo Alvarez. This potential matchup has garnered interest among American boxing enthusiasts, with Benavidez aiming to make history by becoming a two-division world champion.
