Benavidez's Next Move

José Benavidez Sr. has outlined an ambitious four-fight roadmap for his son David Benavidez that could eventually culminate in a heavyweight debut against former unified champion Andy Ruiz Jr.

The plan starts with a three-belt cruiserweight unification against WBC titleholder Michal Cieslak, whom Benavidez is confirmed as the mandatory challenger for, followed by a fight against Jai Opetaia — already ordered by the WBC as the next step for the Cieslak-Benavidez winner. From there, Benavidez Sr. wants his son to drop back to light heavyweight for a fight with Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev before finally moving up to heavyweight.

"After that we would love make a fight with Andy Ruiz Jr. We are just dreaming here but those are the fights that are very possible to make, I told him that I think those fights are possible to make. Imagine David Benavidez-Andy Ruiz!" Benavidez Sr.

"I want to give a big shoutout to Andy Ruiz, he is a great fighter and my heart is with him, he is like family to me. But, at the end of the day, I believe that he would love the same — an opportunity to fight 'The Mexican Monster' — and for us it would be a great opportunity," Benavidez Sr.