Turki Alalshikh has denied that David Benavidez could face Artur Beterbiev at the November 22nd event on DAZN PPV at the ANB Arena in Riyadh. Instead, Turki said the Benavidez vs. Beterbiev fight could happen “Maybe next year.”
Benavidez Sr. Fuels Beterbiev Fight Rumors
Jose Benavidez Sr., the father of WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez, had said in an interview yesterday, “Don’t be surprised” if ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez’s scheduled opponent, Anthony Yarde, pulls out of the November 22nd event.
Jose Sr. believes something could happen to Yarde that results in him needing to be replaced. Benavidez Sr. says that fans would be “More interested” in seeing a fight between the former undisputed light heavyweight champion Beterbiev (21-1, 20 Kos) and David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) for the November 22nd event.
Turki Rejects Immediate Benavidez vs. Beterbiev Fight
“This is not the truth! Maybe next year👍” said Turki Alalshikh on X, denying that David Benavidez could face Artur Beterbiev on the November 22nd card in Riyadh rather than Anthony Yarde.
Jose Sr. is right. The Boxing public would be a lot more interested in watching Benavidez fight ‘The Russian Monster’ Beterbiev than they would in a mismatch with the badly flawed British fighter Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs), who was knocked out in the eighth round two years ago by Artur in 2023.
Although Yarde, 34, has won his last four fights since then, the victories have come primarily against lower-level opposition in confidence-building fights. He doesn’t deserve to challenge Benavidez for his WBC 175-lb title after his wins over scub-level fighters. Turki may have dropped the ball here, not realizing that fans have no desire to see the three-time loser Yarde get fed to Benavidez on a DAZN pay-per-view card.
Beterbiev’s Age and Fight Delay
Beterbiev turns 41 on January 21st, and it doesn’t make sense for Turki to delay this fight any longer than necessary. It’s already bad enough that unified three-belt 175-lb champion Dmitry Bivol chose not to fight Beterbiev in their trilogy match this year.
Beterbiev is fighting a little-known fighter, Deon Nicholson (22-1, 18 KOs), in a 10-round fight on the Benavidez-Yarde undercard on November 22nd in Riyadh. The 35-year-old Nicholson has been fighting lesser opposition his entire pro career.
Deon had a minor step up in competition against Efetobor Apochi in 2021 and was blown out in three rounds. Nicholson is a horrible opponent for a fighter with Beterbiev’s credentials at this stage of his career.
Benavidez Sr. Hints at Beterbiev Fight
“I hope everything is okay with Anthony Yarde, but don’t be surprised if something happens to him and we go with Beterbiev,” said Jose Benavidez Sr. in an interview with Fernando Sabatini. I think it would be a fight that people would be more interested in, and I don’t know why, but I’ve been thinking about it.”
¿BENAVIDEZ VS BETERBIEV EN NOVIEMBRE?
Benavidez Sr 🗣️ “Espero que todo esté bien con Anthony Yarde, pero no se sorprendan si algo le llega a pasar y vamos con Beterbiev. Creo que sería una pelea que a la gente le interesaría más y no sé por qué pero me he puesto a pensar en eso”. pic.twitter.com/i2GBCcF5EN— Fernando Sabatini (@FerSabatiniBox) August 16, 2025
Last Updated on 08/16/2025
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