Ideally, David Benavidez would already be in negotiations with the undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. While everything is indicating that the Bandera Roja will have to settle for someone else for now, a fight against Bivol is definitely in the plans for the future.

It is a fight that has garnered attention from everywhere in the boxing world. Fans and experts have already started predicting the result and have picked their sides. Amidst the excitement, David Benavidez has found support from someone he would have least expected.

Dmitry Bivol’s biggest challenge

In a recent conversation, FightHype TV got hold of David Morrell‘s trainer Ronnie Shields. Morell recently fought David Benavidez in February in a fight-of-the-year contender where Benavidez managed to outpoint Morrell. During the conversation, the legendary trainer revealed that he was very impressed by the performance of his fighter. “I think David Morrell showed he’s a true fighter. David Benavidez is one of the best fighters in the world. He knew that going in there, and I think we showed enough where people will say, ‘Hey, they’re going to have to deal with this kid,” he stated. Shields believes that the fight has elevated the Davids to a new level, making a potential rematch in the future inevitable.

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However, what was more surprising is that the legendary boxing trainer believes that the fight against Morrell will help David Benavidez against Dmitry Bivol, whenever the Interim WBC champion gets a shot at the undisputed champion. Shields thinks that it would be a “50-50” fight that can go either side, claiming that Benavidez might be Bivol’s biggest challenge. “I think it’s a 50-50 fight. Benavidez is a really smart guy, and he can handle himself inside that ring, but Bivol also. I can’t wait for the fight,” he declared.

While David Benavidez is desperately waiting for the title opportunity, certain circumstances have forced him to look at a different opponent.

David Benavidez on the hunt

As soon as Bivol exacted his revenge against Artur Beterbiev, rumors emerged, suggesting Benavidez as his next opponent. However, Matchroom Boxing honcho Eddie Hearn dismissed all the rumors and declared them as “completely false,” in a conversation with Boxing Scene. 

Unable to find a way, David Benavidez and his team might be looking at Interim WBO light heavyweight champion Callum Smith. As Smith also fights under the Matchroom banner, Hearn confirmed that “We’ve had some conversations around Benavidez-Callum Smith.” Both Smith and Benavidez are mandatory challengers for Dmitry Bivol. So, Hearn believes that by the end of the year, Bivol will have to let go of one of his titles.

“Unfortunately, when you become undisputed like Bivol, all of these mandatories swing around. They’ve got one with the IBF, they’ve got Benavidez, they’ve got Callum Smith. So yeah, I think the belts will free up over the next 12 months,” the British promoter stated.

Undoubtedly, a fight between the WBC and WBO interim champion will be a fight that everyone would love to see. However, it looks like David Benavidez has once again stuck in a hole because of which he jumped up from 168. If he once again does not get his title opportunity even at 175, what does it mean for him? Let us know your thoughts down below.