David Benavidez Declines Usyk Showdown, Focuses on Cruiserweight Ambitions
David Benavidez has officially ruled out a fight with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, citing a need for more experience at cruiserweight.
In a recent statement, David Benavidez expressed that he is 'not ready right now' to face Oleksandr Usyk, despite interest from promoter Turki Alalshikh. Following his impressive sixth-round victory over Gilberto Ramirez, which crowned him a three-weight world champion, Benavidez is keen to solidify his position at cruiserweight.
Benavidez has successfully lobbied the WBC to become the mandatory challenger at 200lbs, aiming for a unification bout with fellow champion Noel Mikaelian. Negotiations for this fight are reportedly underway, potentially leaving Jai Opetaia without an opponent for his next match.
While Usyk remains a dominant figure in the heavyweight division, Benavidez is hesitant to take on the challenge, stating, āI have a lot of respect for Usyk, and Iām not ready for that right now.ā He emphasized that he would only consider a fight if Usyk were to move down to cruiserweight.
As Usyk faces a decision on whether to defend his WBC title against interim champion Agit Kabayel or vacate, the boxing world watches closely as Benavidez charts his course in the cruiserweight landscape.
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