Teddy Atlas likes all the pieces about David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), besides his probabilities of beating Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) once they meet on June 15 in Las Vegas.
Benavidez will transfer as much as 175 kilos for the bout. The battle shall be for the interim gentle heavyweight title.
Benavidez had a robust 2023 exhibiting with 2 fights and a pair of (WBC) 168-pound (interim) title battle wins. He hoped that might land him Canelo Álvarez for the tremendous middleweight sweepstakes. When the Canelo battle didn’t come by means of, Benavidez instantly seemed for his subsequent greatest problem.
And that’s what Atlas likes about Benavidez. He isn’t afraid to check himself in opposition to the very best on the market, he isn’t defending his “0” and he’s a man who will in the future go away the sport with a repute as a fighter who would face anybody.
Alvarez was clear when questioned why he wasn’t dealing with him. “Benavidez brings nothing however 7 extra kilos”, he mentioned. Some handed that off as his proper, with him holding the highest spot within the sport. Others noticed the Benavidez brush off as a manner for Canelo to keep away from him. Both manner, assuming that battle doesn’t ever come off, a win over Gvozdyk may see Benavidez taking a look at a blockbuster bout in opposition to the Artur Beterbiev – Dmitry Bivol winner.
Ukraine’s Gvozdyk was topped world champ when he beat Adonis Stevenson in 2018.
He introduced his retirement in 2020, lower than a 12 months after being stopped by bruising puncher Beterbiev who clocks into work with a 100% KO ratio.
I used to be stunned to see Gvozdyk’s ring return after 3 ½ years away. Does he want the cash? Couldn’t make the transition to civilian life? At age 37, generally the one factor left to do in boxing is get damage and I wasn’t certain he needs to be coming again.
He has banked 3 wins in opposition to predictable opposition. Is that this sufficient to get him prepared for a hungry fighter like Benavidez?
Will measurement make a distinction? Benavidez was all the time an enormous tremendous middleweight and for the primary time, he gained’t be the massive man within the ring. Or, perhaps not having to cope with the depleting (last-few-pounds) weight lower will see him enter the ring stronger than ever?
In talking with Atlas in regards to the battle, I believed that we’d be on the identical web page in that Benavidez was going to deal with Gvozdyk after which search for the following large tremendous battle.
Not so quick.
“I give Benavidez a number of credit score. I’m unsure he is aware of what he’s biting off right here. I may need a greater thought having educated Gvozdyk. He’s (Benavidez) a giant 168-pounder, the place he was a dominant pressure, the place he’s beating everybody. And now he’s gonna go as much as a brand new weight class and tackle a really harmful, certified, past certified, fighter. A world champion, a bronze medallist from the Olympics, from the identical steady as Uzyk and Lomachenko,” mentioned Atlas.
And, whereas Gvozdyk does have a loss to Beterbiev, (as does all his opponents), Atlas says that loss can also be deceptive in a battle that Gvozdyk was successful till he hit the wall.
“He (Benavidez) is gonna go as much as gentle heavyweight and tackle a man who has solely misplaced to Beterbiev, who he was beating till he ran out of fuel late within the battle. He gained’t run out of fuel. He’s had just a few years to consider it, to type a sure resolve in him,” he mentioned.
And whereas Atlas goes with Gvozdyk, he has nothing however respect for Benavidez.
“I really like Benavidez. He comes from boxing blood traces. He behaves like a fighter; he’s a fighter to the core. He faces everybody in entrance of him. He believes in himself. Within the sport he’s a man that fights a lovely type, a bodily type. He blends it with method. It’s past what he does within the ring. I believe it’s a way of legacy. He really needs to go away his mark and his legacy on boxing”, mentioned Atlas. “Because of this he takes on these challenges. He believes he’ll beat Gvozdyk after which he’ll look to battle the winner of Bivol and Beterbiev.”
Atlas says that perhaps Benavidez isn’t even conscious, or cares, of the problem he has in entrance of him. And whereas Benavidez has an admirable fighter’s perspective, it gained’t rattle Gvozdyk.
“I don’t know that Benavidez is even conscious, or if he cares, of the chance he’s taking. He’s stepping into there with a man who will give him suits, counter counter-punch him. A man who can use his legs to get angles and set traps. Gvozdyk isn’t only a man who has good method, he’s a man with a psychological toughness. Individuals may not notice simply how mentally robust and powerful Gvozdyk is,” mentioned Atlas.
Definitely, Atlas is aware of Gvozdyk higher than I do. He is aware of precisely what he can do. He took him to a world title. And I’m (admittedly) sticking with Benavidez on nothing greater than a hunch.
Questioning if Atlas (understandably) simply has a tender spot for his former fighter. It doesn’t sound prefer it. That’s not how Atlas operates. He’s talking from his head, not his coronary heart.
“Gvozdyk is simply too quick and too good, he’s elusive and can counter the heck out of him”, mentioned Atlas. “He’ll choose him aside after which again him up late. Individuals shall be shocked,” he continued. “I like Benavidez. I like what he represents. I like the best way he fights, the best way he behaves, he’s not afraid to place that on the road in opposition to anyone. I really like that”, mentioned Atlas. “However I believe he will get beat by Gvozdyk.”
