Former WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-2, 16 KOs) recently stated to the media that current WBC super middleweight/light heavyweight interim champion David Benavídez (29-0, 24 KOs) has a decent defense, especially when he uses the ropes for protection with both hands up.
Gvozdyk said, “David Benavídez can be hit in a fight, but when he’s on the ropes defending himself, it’s difficult to land significant punches on him. I also noticed that he was trying to land quick shots on me. In the middle rounds, I caught him with a great uppercut, and he definitely felt the power of my punch. When I tried to capitalize on that advantage, his defense on the ropes was tight. I believe my counterpunching was better than Benavídez’s, but I shouldn’t dwell too much on those moments.”
The 27-year-old Benavídez still intends to return to the 168-pound division to pursue Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez’s (61-2-2, 39 KOs) official WBC title. However, Álvarez is not interested in that matchup unless someone offers $150 million, so Benavídez is likely to vie for the vacant title instead.
