Trainer Andre Rozier says WBC interim light heavyweight champion David Benavidez will not defeat undisputed 175-lb champion Artur Beterbiev if the two meet. Rozier feels the 39-year-old Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) is still unbeatable after his close call against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol last Saturday night in Riyadh.
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) still needs to defeat David Morrell in their Jan. 25 fight in order to have the opportunity to challenge the winner of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol rematch for the four belts at 175.
Rozier picks WBA ‘regular’ champion Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) to beat Benavidez. He feels Morrell is too powerful, fast and smooth for Benavidez to beat him. This would be a huge blow to Benavidez’s career as he is already in a position to challenge for the WBC title against the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch.
He doesn’t need to fight Morrell to secure himself a chance to fight for that belt and the massive payday that comes with it. Benavidez is taking the fight with Morrell to increase his popularity and because he is confident that he can win. Morrell’s recent performance against Radivoje Kalajdzic, which was not impressive, made Benavidez feel like he could beat him.
“I’m team Beterbiev big time. I thought it was going to be more climactic, but that’s what happens when you have the best fighting the best. It was an uncontested fight, and Beterbiev and Bivol went in there and gave the crowd what they wanted,” Andre Rozier said. Pro Boxing Fanstalking about last Saturday’s fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitri Bivol. “Now, I’d love to see the rematch. It was a close battle.”
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh wants the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch, so we’ll likely see those two meet in the first half of 2025. Ideally, the rematch would take place in March or April, if not sooner, as fans would like to see the winner defend against Benavidez or Morrell.
For American fans, there would be more interest if Beterbiev skips the rematch with Bivol and fights the Benavidez-Morrell winner. Bivol made it boring against Beterbiev by boxing on the move for the full 12 rounds, and he will do more of the same in the rematch.
It would appeal more to American fans, who prefer action-based fights, to see Beterbiev face Morrell or Benavidez. Those guys will come to fight and not move for 12 rounds like Bivol will.
“This is one of the best fights in light heavyweight besides Beterbiev and Bivol. I think it’s going to be crazy fireworks in that fight,” Rozier said of the January 25th fight between WBC interim light heavyweight champion David Benavidez and WBA ‘regular’ champion David Morrell. “It’s going to be crazy.
“I’m moving in the direction of David Morrell. I like his smooth boxing style. He can hit, and he has quick hands. Benavidez is a monster. He’s coming to get you, but I think David Morrell has enough to shortchange that ability of his.
“No one beats Beterbiev, no one,” Rozier said when asked if David Benavidez would defeat Beterbiev. “I don’t care if he goes 10 miles slower. He is the Bernard Hopkins of this time and period. Bernard Hopkins did this until he was 50. He won world titles at 45 and 46. It’s not going to happen. No one beats Beterbiev.
It would be exciting if Benavidez faced Beterbiev to have a shootout like he did against Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Could Benavidez handle the powerful punches of Beterbiev and bury him with his non-stop striking? This will be a much more fun fight than a Beterbiev-Bivol rematch, which will be another cat and mouse affair.
