Former HBO commentator Jim Lampley says he thinks David Benavidez will be the underdog against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol based on the fighter's performance in last Saturday night's bout against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Las Vegas.
(Photo by Esther Lin/Premier Boxing Champions)
Benavidez's options are limited
Lampley feels Benavidez's options are limited after he struggled against former WBC light heavyweight champion Gvozdyk (20-2, 16 KOs). He noted that Benavidez's power was not as effective at 175 pounds as it was at 168, and it faded late in the fight.
Still, Benavidez emerged victorious, winning a 12-round unanimous decision with scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109.
Benavidez’s performance didn’t live up to the judges’ marks and few believe he has a chance of beating Bivol or IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.
Benavidez's chances against Bivol and Beterbiev
Lampley said he wouldn't even mention Beterbiev, meaning he doesn't think Benavidez has a chance of beating him – a sentiment shared by fans who saw how helpless Benavidez was against the 37-year-old Gvozdyk, the man Beterbiev knocked out and forced into retirement five years ago.
“If Benavidez can't fight Canelo, he's certainly at a disadvantage against Dmitry Bivol. Beterbiev's not even in the question,” commentator Jim Lampley told Sean Zittel about the possibility of David Benavidez facing WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol after his underwhelming 175-pound debut against former WBC champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk last Saturday night.
Canelo Alvarez: A potential opportunity?
“From what we've seen, David Benavidez's options are somewhat limited. He can only hope that Canelo Alvarez changes his mind and decides to fight him. Maybe he'll like what he sees from a 168-pound fighter who moved up to 175 pounds, even though he didn't have the power that many, including me, expected.”
Canelo has said so many bad things about Benavidez over the past few years that I don’t think he’s going to change his mind about demanding $200 million for the Benavidez fight.
If Canelo were to beat Benavidez now, he probably wouldn't get any recognition because fans saw how poorly he performed against Gvozdyk and many see Canelo as a promotional troll who built his career on carefully chosen opponents.
“I expected Benavidez to knock it out and I thought that was going to happen early on. [against Gvozdyk]”And I think he faltered a little bit against a really good, experienced veteran fighter who has a lot to contend with,” Lampley said.
Former HBO play-by-play host Lampley shouldn't have predicted Benavidez would knock out Gvozdyk, because it's never going to happen.
Benavidez is a hard-hitting fighter and had no hope of escaping that style of fight against Gvozdyk, who has the technique and power to stand in front of Benavidez and deliver punches nonstop, just as he did against any lesser fighter at 168 pounds.
“Maybe the seven pounds made a difference in the weight of David's punches and he had to weather the temporary storm to win the decision,” Lampley said.
“I think Canelo slowed down in the second half of the fight. I think Canelo will want to look at the financial aspects and see how much it is worth to him to take the risk that comes with fighting David Benavidez.”
Benavidez began to slow down after the fourth round last Saturday night, looking tired and weak. His power was not there from the first round, but that is not surprising, since Benavidez has never been a punching powerhouse at 168 pounds. His knockout was primarily a matter of volume, a buildup of punches that took his opponent down.
“Maybe he'll look at him and think, 'There's no risk. I'm Canelo Alvarez. I'm the most proven punch-resistant fighter in the sport. He's not going to hurt me,'” Lampley said.
“I think there's an opportunity here for Canelo to really think that based on what he sees. Does Canelo punch harder than Oleksandr Gvozdyk? I think so. There are a lot of ways for Canelo to look at this and think, 'I have the advantage over David Benavidez,'” Lampley said.
