David Benavidez stayed unbeaten overall and went to 3-0 as a light heavyweight, looking like a dangerous potential foe for Dmitry Bivol or anybody else with a dominant win over Anthony Yarde in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Benavidez (31-0, 25 KO) felt it out early on, but once he started turning the screw, as they say, Yarde (27-4, 24 KO) just had no answer for the accuracy and power of the “Monster.”
Benavidez looked the best he’s looked to date at 175 lbs, too, and clearly is the top threat — or at least the top new threat — to Dmitry Bivol, who holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles.
Bivol could be next for Benavidez, particularly if Turki Alalshikh sees more money and intrigue in that matchup than he does in a third Bivol vs Beterbiev bout, or the somewhat in-the-works Benavidez vs Beterbiev fight that many anticipated to come in 2026.
Artur Beterbiev was supposed to fight on tonight’s card, but ended up not, so those plans may have already been scrapped.
What did you make of Benavidez tonight? And would you pick him over Bivol if they met next?
