David Benavidez’s next big move is already in the works, with his father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., setting sights on a showdown with undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. But first, the undefeated Benavidez must handle business against WBA ‘regular’ champion David Morrell in their upcoming bout on January 25th.
Jose Sr. sees Beterbiev as a perfect next challenge for his son. “Hopefully, we can get an opportunity to fight Beterbiev. He just won on Saturday,” Jose Sr. told Probox TV. He also mentioned that Dmitry Bivol, who defeated Canelo Alvarez in 2022, is another name on their radar. However, Bivol’s appeal could diminish if he loses his rematch with Beterbiev.
The rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it’s something that could affect Benavidez’s plans. Jose Sr. knows that if Beterbiev and Bivol end up in a trilogy, Benavidez might have to wait a while before getting his shot at the belts. This uncertainty makes the upcoming fight against Morrell even more crucial for Team Benavidez.
“We’ve been trying to make the fight with David Morrell for three years,” said Jose Sr. “But I believe David Morrell needed a little more experience to show the world that he deserves this fight.” Despite some skepticism about how hard Team Benavidez pushed for the Morrell fight, it’s now locked in, and both sides are ready to go.
For now, the focus remains on the Morrell fight, but Team Benavidez has their eyes firmly set on a future with Beterbiev. A win over Morrell will bring them one step closer to that dream showdown. If things go as planned, 2025 could see Benavidez step into the ring with one of the sport’s most dangerous fighters.
Read more about the great career of David Benavidez.
Image Credit: Showtime