Trainer Andre Rozier says WBC interim light heavyweight champion David Benavidez will not defeat undisputed 175-lb champion Artur Beterbiev if the two meet up. Rozier feels that the 39-year-old Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs) is still unbeatable after his close call against WBA champ Dmitry Bivol last Saturday night in Riyadh.
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) still must defeat David Morrell in their fight on January 25th for him to get 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. That would be a huge blow to Benavidez’s career because he’s already in a position to challenge for the WBC title against the winner of the rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol.
He doesn’t need to fight Morrell to ensure himself a shot at fighting for that belt and the massive payday that will come with it. Benavidez is taking the fight with Morrell to increase his popularity and because he’s confident he can win. Morrell’s recent performance against Radivoje Kalajdzic, which was not impressive, has made Benavidez feel he can beat him.
“I’m Team Beterbiev big time. I thought it was going to be more climatic, but that’s what happens when you have the best fighting the best. It was an undisputed bout, and Beterbiev and Bivol went in there and gave the crowd what they wanted,” said Andre Rozier to Pro Boxing Fans, talking about last Saturday’s fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. “Now, I would love to see the rematch. It was a close fight.”
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh wants the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch, So we’re likely to see those two meet in the first half of 2025. Ideally, the rematch will occur in March or April, if not sooner, because fans would like to see the winner defend against Benavidez or Morrell.
For U.S fans, there would be more interest if Beterbiev skipped the rematch with Bivol and fought the Benavidez-Morrell winner. Bivol made it boring against Beterbiev by boxing on the move for the full 12 rounds, and he’ll be doing 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.
“That is one of the best fights at light heavyweight other than Beterbiev and Bivol. I think it’s going to be mad fireworks in that fight,” said Rozier about the January 25th fight between WBC interim light heavyweight champion David Benavidez and WBA ‘regular’ champ 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 punch, and he has fast hands. Benavidez is a monster. He comes to get you, but I think David Morrell has enough to short-circuit that ability of his.
“Nobody beats Beterbiev, no one,” said Rozier when asked if David Benavidez would defeat Beterbiev. “I don’t care if he slowed down 10 miles. He is the Bernard Hopkins of this time and period. Bernard Hopkins was doing it until he was 50. He was winning world titles at 45 and 46. It’s not going to happen. Nobody beats Beterbiev.
It would be exciting if Benavidez were to stand in front of Beterbiev to have a shootout like he did against Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Could Benavidez handle the powerful punches from Beterbiev and bury him with his nonstop punching? That would be a far more fun fight than a Beterbiev-Bivol rematch, which will be another cat-and-mouse affair.
Read the full article here
