Benavidez Plans 10-Year Path From 175 To Cruiserweight

By Graham Ilford – Colossus Boxing: David Benavidez says he wants to stay at 175 pounds for the next five years before moving up to cruiserweight for an additional five years after that.

His next fight against Anthony Yarde on November 22, 2025, will provide a hint of whether he’s going to be able to stay in the division for long.

Power Debate Refuses to Die

Benavidez dismisses the view of fans that his power hasn’t carried up from 168 to 175. He points out that the faces of his two opponents, who he’s faced at light heavyweight, David Morrell and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, looked “beat up.” Some fans would argue that Benavidez is in denial about his lack of power at 175.

For ‘The Mexican Monster’ to be concerned about what fans are saying about his lack of power at 175, it suggests that he may be harboring self-doubt in this area. It’s understandable why he would.

The Morrell and Gvozdyk Reality Check

In his two fights in the division, he’s not shown any of the old power that he had when he fought at 168. His opponents, Gvozdyk and Morrell, appeared to hit him harder than he did, and they marked him up badly in the face. Whether he likes it or not, Benavidez’s days may be numbered at 175.

They’re All Beat Up,” Benavidez Fires Back

“Them saying my power hasn’t carried over is kind of funny because you see these guys. They’re all beat up,” said David Benavidez to Ring Magazine, reacting to fans saying his power hasn’t carried up to 175 from 168. “They know I got power.

What Benavidez fails to say is that his face looked more bruised and swollen than those two, and he failed to knock them out. Those fights showed that he doesn’t possess the same power at light heavyweight as when he was campaigning at 168.

It’s still too early to know if WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez will stay at 175 for five years because he’s not looked outstanding in his two fights in the weight class. At 28, it’s questionable whether he’ll last five more years taking the punishment he’s been taking since moving up from 168. He was dropped in the 11th round by his last opponent, David Morrell on February 1, 2025.

“I was at super middleweight for almost 10 years. I’m more of a light heavyweight than a super middleweight. The weight cut in training camp isn’t fun for anybody.”

“I want to be at light heavyweight for five years, and then go up and be at cruiserweight for five years,” said Benavidez.”I feel great, I feel strong. I feel amazing. I feel fast.”

Benavidez’s lack of power at light heavyweight is a signal that he shouldn’t move up to cruiserweight. Going up against some of the hard hitters like Jai Opetaia would be a bad idea. He lacks the defense to fight someone like that without taking a beating.

Veteran boxing columnist Graham Ilford brings dry humor and long-earned perspective to the sport.