Trainer Andre Rozier feels that David Benavidez will not beat unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev if he gets to that point of fighting him.
Rozier thinks Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) will be too strong, and too talented for Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) if the two fight.
Benavidez’s Light Heavyweight Journey Begins
In a long overdue move, Benavidez is moving up from super middleweight to take on Oleksandr Gvozdyk in a WBC 175-lb title eliminator on June 15th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. If Benavidez wins, he’ll be mandatory for the WBC title Beterbiev holds.
Beterbiev is fighting WBA champion Dmitry Bivol for the 175-lb undisputed championship on June 1st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. So if Benavidez defeats Gvozdyk, he could be next for the winner of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol fight.
Benavidez has already said he thinks he’ll beat Bivol after having sparred him in the past years ago, but it could be a different story going up against Beterbiev, who is a big puncher and would put hands on him.
Rozier’s Advice: Embrace the Light Heavyweight Division
“I don’t think Benavidez should think about 168 anymore. It’s a known fact that fighters have trouble going up and coming back down. He’s a very big athlete to begin with,” said trainer Andre Rozier to Fighthype when asked if David Benavidez should return to 168 after he fights Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th for the WBC interim light heavyweight title.
“I think he should relish the moment of being a light heavyweight now and seek to fight the best of the best. There will be a unified champion one way or another after Beterbiev and Bivol get in the ring [on June 1st]. So, that’s what I think he should aspire to, becoming undisputed.
Rozier’s Verdict: Beterbiev is Unbeatable
“No one beats Beterbiev,” said Rozier when asked if David Benavidez will defeat IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. “The only way you’re going to beat that man [Beterbiev] is if Father Time catches him and says, ‘Come on, come with me.’ Beterbiev is a wrecking machine. He does so many things well.”
Benavidez had a lot of trouble in his fight against Caleb Plant last year and gave away four of the first six rounds against the finesse fighter. That fight showed that Benavidez was not the fighter that many fans had thought he was, as he was forced to go 12 rounds to beat Plant.
