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Benavidez is targeting Bivol’s belts after defeating Zurdo in May

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Image: Benavidez Targets Bivol’s Belts, Sees Beterbiev Fight As Fan Favorite

David Benavidez says he wants to face Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol after challenging Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on May 2.

WBC lightweight heavyweight champion Benavidez says he prefers to face Bivol (24-1, 12 KO) because he holds the IBF, WBA and WBO 175-pound titles. By defeating him, Benavidez (31-0, 15 KO) would become the undisputed champion and move higher in the pound-for-pound rankings.

Benavidez says he realizes that boxing fans would be more willing to watch his fight with Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KO) because it would be a war. However, he wants to win the three titles that Bivol holds. This may not happen quickly or at all if Dmitry loses these belts in his trilogy against Beterbiev in early 2026.

If Benavidez is unable to make either of these fights, he would be better off staying at cruiserweight as the division lacks gigantic names. At least by remaining at cruiserweight, he will be able to face Jai Opetaia and then move up to heavyweight. He has the size to compete in this weight class. Benavidez claims he hydrated into the 90s during his defense against Anthony Yard (27-4, 24 KO) last Saturday, November 22.

Benavidez crushed Yarde by seventh-round knockout in the headliner at Ring IV at the ANB Arena in Riyad.

“At lightweight heavyweight, that’s the only thing that makes sense, Bivol and Beterbiev. Then we’ll see who else,” David Benavidez said.FL Television when asked who he wants to fight after fighting Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on May 2, 2026.

Bivol and Beterbiev are behind schedule in their careers. These are fights that Benavidez won’t get credit for if he wins them. Bivol is 34 years aged and underwent spine surgery last August. Beterbiev is 40 years aged and has been struggling with injury problems since 2024.

“Just for the title, I would say Bivol. But I think the fight that people would like more is Beterbiev. I’m here for the fans. If I tell the fans I’m going to war, that’s exactly what I’ll do,” Benavidez said about who he would rather fight. “I want to be No. 1 pound-for-pound. I want to have the same conversation as Usyk.”

It would be better if Benavidez skipped the fights against Beterbiev, Bivol and Gilberto Ramirez and went after IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. This would be a better option if he wanted to be seen in the same lightweight as Usyk.

“I’m not comfortable with taking punches. I don’t think he hit difficult,” Benavidez said of Anthony Yarde last Saturday night. “Yes, of course, if he had hit me with a immaculate shot, it would have been bad on my part. But I don’t think he would have hit difficult.”

Benavidez was cut in the left eye after taking punches from Yarde in the sixth round. He just let Yarde hit him with arrows, so it was no surprise that he ended up getting cut. In Benavidez’s last fight against David Morrell on February 1, 2025, he looked like he had been run over by a steamroller towards the end. His face looked worse than that of Morrell, whom he defeated in a 12-round unanimous decision.

Last update: 24/11/2025

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Sergei Gorokhov KO toppled after ring invasion in Turkey

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Image: Sergei Gorokhov KO Overturned After Ring Invasion in Turkey

Gorokhov (16-11-2) had already done damage with large shots, finishing Kalkan (7-0, 4 KO) with a spotless knockout that forced the referee to wave his hand. The task has been completed.

After being detained, Gorokhov walked to the opposite corner, where a fight began. That was enough. The cornermen ran inside, the voices became piercing, followed by punches. Within seconds, many people entered the ring.

The situation got out of the referee’s control. The horns could not be separated. Once the non-fighters make it through the ropes, the result will be written in the record books.

The footage showed flying chairs and people trading on ropes as security tried to take control of the situation. The recording shows objects thrown near the ropes. The announcements to stop the fight didn’t change anything. The ring is already gone.

The sanctioning authority has confined powers and the ruling follows standard procedure. When the ropes are broken and extra hands are involved, the score cannot stand and is removed from the scoresheet.

An investigation is ongoing and suspensions and penalties are expected once reports are submitted. The verdict now comes from the officials, not the blows that ended it.

Kalkan keeps his undefeated record in the books. Gorokhov leaves without the victory he earned. Disciplinary action is expected following the investigation.

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Oleksandr Usyk said he “can’t run away” from the newly emerged title challenger: “I will bully him”

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Oleksandr Usyk told that he ‘cannot run’ from newly emerged title contender: “I’ll bully him”

Although Oleksandr Usyk presented his three-fight plan, a recent challenger entered the fight with hopes of taking a shot at the Ukrainian and winning the unified world heavyweight titles.

Next month’s meeting with Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven kicks off what Usyk envisioned as a series of three hand-picked fights before his planned retirement in 2027, with his next dance partner being the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois.

However, the WBC is expected to demand that Usyk fight mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel in his next fight, and promoter Frank Warren believes he will be stripped of his belt if he fails to face the undefeated German.

Meanwhile, the WBA and IBF titles are not on the line against Verhoeven, which has fight fans wondering whether Usyk could soon be stripped of those belts as well.

Although if Usyk defends the WBA crown, Jarrell Miller will be waiting for him after him on Saturday evening he defeated Lenier Pero in the WBA eliminator final rise to title contention.

I’m talking to Fighting Hub TV after “Gigantic Baby” won, he told Usyk that there was nowhere to run or hide when fighting him.

“He’s a great fighter, man, but when you’re fighting a bully like me, there’s nowhere to run or hide. Usyk doesn’t really have crazy punching power, and he has trouble with guys who punch to the body and throw a lot of punches.”

This performance [against Pero] it was just a taste of what I could do. So the most essential thing is to go back and get the drawing board back. Let’s work and be ready for everyone.

I want Usyk to come back after the Rico fight and I can spank him.

If Usyk loses the WBA title, Miller could find himself in line for a title fight with current WBA Regular titleholder Murat Gassiew, who expected to be promoted to full champion. Although Moses Itauma would probably get the first shot at the proposed scrap with the Russian.

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David Benavidez has no room for error in the fight against Ramirez

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Image: David Benavidez Has No Room for Error vs Ramirez

Benavidez enters Saturday’s fight with Gilberto Ramirez in a situation where even a tiny defeat may have a higher price than one defeat in history. Greater opportunities lie ahead, but those plans depend on beating Ramirez cleanly and leaving Las Vegas intact.

Benavidez will meet Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas in a fight for Ramirez’s WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles for $79.99. On paper, this is a bold move as Benavidez makes the jump from lightweight heavyweight to challenge an established titleholder who has already established himself in the division.

The pressure on Benavidez goes far beyond physical titles. For months, his name has been linked to huge opportunities at 175 pounds, most notably a clash with Dmitry Bivol. A loss to Ramirez would immediately derail those plans, forcing Benavidez into a rebuilding phase and delaying any significant career moves for the foreseeable future.

Winning in an ugly or narrow way can still invite skepticism. Benavidez is known for his constant pressure and high efficiency, and recently he has had a record of immaculate shots and has been forced to persevere in hard moments. Facing naturally larger opponents makes these defensive mistakes much more steep in the long run.

Ramirez may lack elite strength, but he has the experience and durability of a seasoned cruiserweight. He also enters the ring with much less weight on his shoulders than the challenger. All the pressure to perform rests entirely on Benavidez.

Therefore, the risk for Benavidez is much higher than for the man holding the belts. A victory will ensure that his path to mass fights remains clear, while any other result could immediately ruin his momentum and force him to spend time fighting Ramirez again. Getting stuck twice in the Ramirez fight would be a nightmare for Benavidez.

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