Andy Ruiz Jr invites David Benavidez to the heavyweight division

Andy Ruiz Jr. would welcome a fight with David Benavidez should he ever move up to heavyweight.

Benavidez, 29-0 (24 KOs), has been calling for a fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for what seems like an eternity but is yet to secure an encounter with the Mexican great. Benavidez recently moved up to light-heavyweight to face Oleksandr Gvozdyk but with him currently pondering whether to stay or move back down to super middleweight, a jump to heavyweight would appear preposterous.  

However, former heavyweight champion Ruiz, 35-2 (22 KOs), believes that the 6’2” Benavidez has the size and frame to one day compete in the land of the giants. Ruiz will take on 300+ pound heavyweight Jarell Miller on August 3 in the hope of securing a second shot at a world championship. Ruiz famously dethroned Anthony Joshua in 2019 to become Mexico’s first heavyweight champion and cause one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. 

“I think David [Benavidez] can do anything because he’s big, he’s strong,” Ruiz told FightHub TV about the 27-year-old. “I mean it was his first time fighting at [light-heavyweight] in his last fight, but it just takes time, he’s super young. If he does go to heavyweight hopefully, he gives me the opportunity to fight. He can [move up to heavyweight]. If he’s walking around, he is probably like 200 pounds anyway. I’m pretty sure he feels strong, but he’s a really talented kid.”