Benavidez Isn’t A Real 175 Monster Vs Yarde Test

Trainer Abel Sanchez expects Anthony Yarde to give WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez a “tough fight” this Saturday night, November 22nd, in their headliner at Ring IV in Riyadh. Abel sees Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) pulling away to get the victory in the end due to his speed and overall talent.

(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)

Yarde’s Power Makes This Dangerous

It won’t be a shock if Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) knocks out Benavidez on Saturday. He’s there to be hit, and Yarde is one of the biggest punchers in the 175-lb division.

Sanchez says he doesn’t view Benavidez as having the “strength” at 175 to defeat the top fighters in the division, Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. He states that ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez isn’t as “dominant” as he was when he campaigned at 168. His boxing skills aren’t enough in this division. It takes more.

“The Yarde fight isn’t an easy fight, but David is a talent. Anthony is going to be there for him. He’s going to give him a tough fight, but in the end, it’s going to be David Benavidez winning going away,” said trainer Abel Sanchez to Secondsout, predicting a victory by WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez over challenger Anthony Yarde this Saturday.

Yarde Looks Strong—Benavidez Looks Drained

Sanchez didn’t discuss Benavidez’s physical state. He’s looked skeletal this week from cutting weight for Friday’s weigh-in. That weight drain could leave him vulnerable to Yarde, who looks much healthier this week.

We also don’t know what Benavidez has in the tank after the battering he took in his last fight against David Morrell.

“Not Dominant Anymore”: Sanchez’s Verdict

“No,” said Sanchez when asked if Benavidez can beat the top 175-pound fighters, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. “At 168, dominant. At 175, he’s proven he’s not as dominant. Listen, he’s got great tools. Great hand speed. Great combinations and commands very well in the ring.”

Benavidez’s two fights at 175:

David Morrell
Oleksandr Gvozdyk

We’ve already seen that Benavidez isn’t the same fighter in his two matches at 175 against David Morrell and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Despite winning a pair of 12-round unanimous decisions, Benavidez took a beating in both fights and looked worse off physically than his opponents. Those bouts showed that he doesn’t have the power at 175, and his opponents hit harder.

Fifteen More Years? Reality Says Otherwise

Benavidez said this week in an interview that he believes he’ll fight another 15 years. However, with the pounding he took in the last year alone, the odds of him lasting that long are slim. Benavidez may change his mind once he begins a steep decline in his performances, suffering knockout losses, and no longer dominating like he’d done at 168.

Morrell & Gvozdyk Already Put Miles on Him

His grueling fights against Morrell and Gvozdyk were a wake-up call, showing how his situation has changed. He’s no longer the big fish in a small pond.

“Does he have the strength and the size to deal with Bivol or Beterbiev? They’re talking about Zurdo [Ramirez] and moving up to 175,” said Abel about Benavidez’s limits. “Is he doing enough to be able to do more than just the boxing ability?”

Going up against Beterbiev and Bivol would take a lot out of Benavidez. He would have to absorb a lot of shots for him to beat either, and it’s questionable whether he could. Morrell and Gvozdyk already hurt him. That’s a bad sign.