David Benavidez vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk: Tale of the Tape

We take a closer look at David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk as they prepare to do battle in a light-heavyweight clash in Las Vegas on June 15.

Benavidez will make the move up to light-heavyweight following his world title winning exploits in the super-middleweight division and the WBC have announced that the contest with Gvozdyk will serve as an interim light-heavyweight title fight. 

The Las Vegas card also features the lightweight world title contest between Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin on what should be a cracking night of Nevada action. 

Gvozdyk has been out of action for nine months and a clash with Benavidez doesn’t look like the easiest return to action for the Ukrainian. 

Fight bio	David Benavidez	Oleksandr Gvozdyk
Odds:	-600	+400
Age:	27	37
Nickname:	The Monster Bandera Roja	The Nail
Height:	6-2	6-2
Reach:	74”	75”
Weight division:	Light-heavyweight (debut)	Light-heavyweight
Record:	28-0-0 (24 KOs)	20-1-0 (16 KOs)
Titles:	Interim WBC super-middleweight	N/A
Last Fight:	W (RTD) Demetrius Andrade (Nov 2023)	W (KO) Isaac Rodrigues (Sept 2023)

Read David Benavidez vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk fight date, ring walk time, how to watch, undercard & odds on site.

David Benavidez profile

Benavidez is a fearsome former super-middleweight world champion. The Las Vegas fighter has won all of his 28 professional contests, with 24 of those coming by stoppage and the 27-year-old produced a stunning string of performances last year. 

The Monster Bandera Roja retired the then undefeated former world champion Demetrius Andrade in Vegas last November and that followed another impressive victory over one-time IBF super-middleweight king Caleb Plant. 

Those were seriously impressive performances from a Las Vegas fighter who has looked unstoppable as he has climbed the ranks and Benavidez now has his sights set on new targets. 

The 27-year-old has been chasing a clash with undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, but with Alvarez moving in a different direction, Benavidez has stepped up to the 175-pounds division. 

That move could set up a huge bout with either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol, who duke it out on June 1, but The Monster Bandera Roja must first get past the challenge of Gvozdyk and prove he can be a force in the light-heavyweight ranks. 

Strengths	Weaknesses
Punch power	Light-heavyweight debut
Workrate
Punch output

Oleksandr Gvozdyk profile 

Only Beterbiev has proved too strong for Gvozdyk in a 21-fight professional career and there is certainly no shame in losing to the elite-level Dagestan fighter. 

The Nail is a former light-heavyweight world champion, having captured the WBC belt when knocking out Adonis Stevenson in 2018. Gvozdyk was behind on the scorecards in that bout, and Stevenson was certainly past his peak at that stage of his career, but the Ukrainian carries power, has an excellent gas tank and his footwork and technical ability have to be respected. 

The 37-year-old is in the twilight of his career, but victories over Ricards Bolotniks and Isaac Rodrigues last year suggest that the Nail still has something to offer, with 16 of Gvozdyk’s wins coming by stoppage.

However, it’s worth considering that the Ukrainian spent time in hospital after his knockout defeat to Beterbiev in 2019 and was inactive for over three years after announcing his retirement from the sport following the loss to the Dagestan man. 

The Ukrainian is an established light-heavyweight performer though and it will be interesting to see what physical threat he can pose to Benavidez.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Work rate	Previously retired from boxing
Technical ability	Punch resistance
Footwork

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.