Jose Benavidez Sr assesses David Benavidez's potential opponents

With a 30-0 record, David Benavidez is expectedly a man in demand and his father and trainer Jose Benavidez Sr has had his say on who he could fight next.

Following Dmitry Bivol's decision to vacate the WBC light heavyweight title, Benavidez was elevated from interim to full champion.

With belts comes attraction, however, and while he hasn't been granted the opportunity to fight Bivol, he will likely defend his strap against a notable challenger.

Benavidez has recorded some impressive victories of late, most recently defeating David Morrell via unanimous decision back on 1st February 2025.

Given a fight against Bivol in the near future seems unlikely, and some have even gone as far as saying the Russian fighter is ducking Benavidez, we take a look at who Jose Benavidez Sr thinks could step in as David Benavidez's next opponent.

Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Jose Benavidez Sr said: “We were trying to fight ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. They wanted the fight, we wanted the fight, so that was an easy fight to make.

"(But) now, I think we’ve got to defend [the WBC belt] at least once or twice. We’re thinking Anthony Yarde [or] Callum Smith [as potential opponents].”

A third fight with Lyndon Arthur stands in the way of a shot at the WBC belt for Anthony Yarde, but should he emerge victorious, a fight with David Benavidez appears a possibility.

Meanwhile, Liverpudlian Callum Smith will no doubt be sensing an opportunity against Benavidez, having recorded an immensely impressive victory against Joshua Buatsi on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol 2 in February 2025.

• Eddie Hearn explains Dmitry Bivol's decision to vacate WBC light-heavyweight title

Ellis Statham

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