David Benavidez mentioned he remains uncertain about remaining in the cruiserweight division to challenge IBF titleholder Jai Opetaia, even if he triumphs over WBA and WBO champion Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez in the upcoming year.
Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) communicated that he approaches his career one fight at a time, with his immediate concern focusing on challenging Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) for his two cruiserweight championships on May 2, 2026. He mentioned his desire to return to the 175 lb division after his fight against Ramirez to potentially face these three opponents:
- Dmitry Bivol
- Artur Beterbiev
- Canelo Alvarez
“I consider each fight an opportunity. Perhaps, after securing the [WBA and WBO] titles in the cruiserweight division, there might be a chance to move down,” David Benavidez stated to Ring Magazine when questioned about a possible return to the 175 lb division after moving up to challenge Gilberto Ramirez for his two belts on May 2, 2026.
Beterbiev presents the most accessible option among the three for Benavidez, as he has already expressed interest in facing him. However, should Beterbiev lose his yet-to-be-scheduled trilogy fight against Bivol, it would render a match against Benavidez irrelevant.
“I don’t anticipate gaining excessive muscle by moving up in weight, and I prefer not to become too bulky. I don’t intend to remain in the cruiserweight division permanently. I want to return to the lower weight class,” Benavidez stated.
Therefore, we are formulating a solid strategy. We have six months to adequately prepare for that fight [Ramirez].
Transitioning back from cruiserweight to light heavyweight might prove more challenging for Benavidez than he anticipates. He would need to shed 25 lbs, going from 200 to 175 lbs. This poses a challenge for anyone, especially for a fighter who already exhibited signs of struggling with weight cutting during his match against Anthony Yarde on November 22nd.
“We’ll evaluate the necessary muscle mass to gain and the appropriate strength and conditioning regimen to follow. However, I definitely intend to move back down [to 175] and pursue a fight with Bivol, Beterbiev, and Canelo, hopefully in the future. I’m uncertain. We’ll address one fight at a time. Everything remains possible. I’m not avoiding any challenges,” Benavidez stated when asked about remaining in the cruiserweight division to fight IBF champion Jai Opetaia.
