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David Benavidez Wouldn’t Rule Out The Dmitry Bivol Fight
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) is all set to test his mettle against Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) on November 22. However, this does not mean he has forgotten his quest for a showdown with Dmitry Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs). Bivol, who holds the Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBO titles, is currently recovering from back surgery. While many might think that the chances might be bleak, Benavidez believes that he will get the chance to step into the ring with his former sparring partner.

Talking to the Ring Magazine, Benavidez revealed that he is hopeful of getting an opportunity to acquire Bivol’s titles after his recovery.

“This is kind of like what was going on with Canelo. But I wouldn’t rule it out. I think Dmitry Bivol is more of a man of his word than Canelo. If they mandate the fight again, then I’m sure it’ll happen,” he said. “But I don’t really wanna bash him too much because he did have back surgery, and he did have two great fights with Artur Beterbiev. So, when he’s ready to fight, I’m gonna be right here, waiting for him.”

Bivol hasn’t fought since he faced Artur Beterbiev in their rematch in February. While he was in talks for a trilogy showdown against Beterbiev, he chose to forego it to have his lower back surgery in August. He’s currently in rehab to regain strength in the lumbar region.

While Benavidez is hoping that Bivol doesn’t pick a tune-up fight, he is also open to moving up to cruiserweight.

“The good thing is for me is that we have a lotta options on the table. We have Beterbiev on the table. We have ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on the table. So, it doesn’t really matter to me. If he’s gonna fight someone else, I would rather fight the best Dmitry Bivol out there, as opposed to fighting a Dmitry Bivol that’s still hurt,” he added

“The Hardest I’ve Trained”

But this does not mean he’s overlooking the fight at hand. Talking at Inside the Ring, he revealed that he’s hyper-focused on the fight and that he’s looking forward to dominating Yarde on fight night.

“I’m looking to dominate, but whatever happens, I’m ready for it. If it turns into a war, then I’m going to turn into a war, but I’ll definitely dominate,” he said. “This is the hardest I’ve trained out of any of my fights. I’m going to go in there and give you guys a war.”

This article first appeared on Fights Around The World and was syndicated with permission.

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