“Canelo, Bivol, and Beterbiev,” Benavidez said to ESPN Knockout about guys he wants to face. When pressed on who he would knock out, his answer did not change.
“I knock out all three. All three in the same night.”
The “all three in one night” comment is pure promotional theater. By grouping Canelo, Bivol, and Beterbiev together, he is presenting himself as the only logical final boss for all three.
Canelo has ignored him for years. Outrageous claims are often the only way to get the public to clamor loudly enough that a superstar can no longer justify the business move of avoiding a dangerous contender.
Saying he’d knock out three legends in one night fits the “Monster” persona perfectly, even if he knows it’s physically impossible.
Benavidez is likely “serious” in the sense that he truly believes he is the best fighter in the world. However, the specific “one night” claim is 100% aimed at the casual fans who only tune in when the headlines are explosive.
He knows that to become the “face of boxing,” he needs a narrative. Wins aren’t enough. If he can take Ramirez’s belts on May 2, that “bluster” suddenly starts looking like a prophecy, and the pressure on Canelo to fight him in September will reach a boiling point.
Since moving up to 175 lbs, Benavidez has proved he belongs physically, but he no longer has the massive size advantage he used to bully opponents with at 168 lbs.
Most analysts consider Bivol the hardest puzzle for Benavidez to solve. Benavidez relies on high-volume combinations and wearing opponents down. Bivol is a master of distance, footwork, and the “in-and-out” style.
Bivol’s jab and lateral movement are designed to neutralize pressure fighters. In their past sparring sessions, which both have commented on, Bivol reportedly handled Benavidez’s aggression well.
Benavidez has the hand speed to compete, but many experts believe Bivol would outpoint him in a lopsided decision by staying off the ropes and exploiting Benavidez’s occasionally wide punches.
Artur Beterbiev is the fight fans are dying to see because it’s a “phone booth” war. Both men want to stand in the center of the ring and trade. Beterbiev has terrifying, heavy-handed power, while Benavidez has the faster, “stinging” combinations.
Beterbiev is a natural, lifelong light heavyweight with arguably the best “inside game” in boxing history. Benavidez has shown he can be hit, as seen in his fights with Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell, and taking a flush shot from Beterbiev is a different reality than taking one from a super middleweight.
This is a 50/50 toss-up. Benavidez has youth and cardio on his side, but Beterbiev’s physical strength might be enough to push the “Monster” backward for the first time in his career.
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