LAS VEGAS – It would’ve been one thing for David Benavidez to simply defeat the bigger Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
To pursue and then collect a TKO over a fighter who had never been knocked down in his career as a two-division champion speaks volumes about the drive toward dominance that “The Monster” has set out on.
And it’s why people wonder who next will volunteer to meet the 29-year-old who stands actively as a two-division champion with a third 168lbs belt gained in his past.
BoxingScene has learned that preliminary conversations to arrange a next bout between Benavidez, 32-0 (26 KOs), and three-belt light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol have gone well as Bivol moves toward an IBF mandatory title defense May 30 against massive underdog Michael Eifert.
But that was before Saturday night’s main event at T-Mobile Arena, where Benavidez became the first man in the sport’s long history to collect a major belt at 168, 175 and 200lbs, while also making Ramirez quit and head to the hospital with what appeared to be an orbital bone injury.
This latest move up was the largest jump in weight, and it made Benavidez the WBO and WBA champion in the weight class, beefing up a collection that already includes his WBC light-heavyweight strap.
If unbeaten Jai Opetaia had been able to retain his IBF belt, perhaps he would be the next-best ideal foe for Benavidez, who would like to double-down in his Cinco de Mayo takeover by fighting next on Mexican Independence weekend.
But Australia’s Opetaia, 30-0 (23 KOs), moved to the new Zuffa Boxing promotion, and that could complicate the ability to bring the sides together, particularly in America, where Benavidez wants to fight.
“That’s the biggest fight in the world, especially in this division,” Benavidez said of Opetaia during his post-fight news conference. “If he wants that fight, come get that fight.
“I don’t know why he went to Zuffa. We could’ve made that fight right after this, but I’m not going over there to fight for a Zuffa title. There’s a lot of politics with that.
“It’s a great fight for the future, but now, he has to come back over here. … if we can make the fight, let’s do it.”
What about Bivol, who previously defeated Benavidez’s rival, Canelo Alvarez, along with beating former undisputed light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.
Asked if he believes he might’ve given Bivol reason to avoid the fight given Benavidez’s performance, the newly unified cruiserweight champion said, “I can’t answer that question. He’s a great champion. At the end of the day, it’s boxing: We’re here to show the best of ourselves. I’m ready to fight the best and test myself.”
Benavidez told reporters to stop asking him about a move to heavyweight. It’s likely about five years away, as he explained moving that far up, “forget about the other two divisions.”
His No. 1 WBC light-heavyweight contender is Beterbiev, who’s longing for a trilogy fight with Bivol after his narrow loss to him last year.
If it seems muddied now, Benavidez assured, “Everything I speak, I do.
“I’m a champion. I did it the hard way. I want to keep giving the fans the fights they want,” he said. “And I feel it can happen in the United States.”
