A visibly thinned-out David Benavidez said today at the Grand Arrivals that he has three more pounds to cut for the weigh-in on Friday for his fight against Anthony Yarde this Saturday, November 22nd, in Riyadh.
(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)
Benavidez Shows Up Looking Drained
Benavidez’s skinny appearance has some fans wondering how much weight he is cutting to make 175. If he’s that thin at 178, it’s a signal that he needs to be at cruiserweight already.
If he’s drained from making weight, he could be vulnerable on Saturday against the big puncher Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs). It’s he wrong guy for WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez to be fatigued against due to a hard weight cut. The way he looked today, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he rehydrates to the mid-190s or even 200.
“This is one of my easiest weight cuts. I’ve got about three pounds left. Right now, I’m at 178. So, three pounds,” said an emaciated-looking David Benavidez to DAZN Boxing at today’s Grand Arrivals in Riyadh.
This is Benavidez’s “easiest weight” cut? What am I hearing? That says a lot about how much he was cutting down when he was fighting at super middleweight, and looking enormous when he’d enter the ring. When you’re bigger than your opponents, it gives a big advantage.
Gvozdyk & Morrell Remind Us of Reality
It’s worth noting that Benavidez’s knockouts have dried up since he moved up to 175. Despite still looking bigger than his opponents in this weight class, he’s not gotten close to hurting the two fighters he’s fought at light heavyweight, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell. Indeed, it was them who hurt Benavidez.
Benavidez Claims Power Still Carries Up
“I know that’s not true because in the fight against Gvozdyk, I hurt him. In the fight against Morrell, I hurt him,” said Benavidez when asked about his reaction to the critics who have said that his power hasn’t carried up from 168 to 175.
I watched the Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk fight three times, and there was never a sign of Oleksandr being hurt. The one who got hurt in that fight was Benavidez in the 11th round when Gvozdyk hit him in the breadbasket with a hard shot. Benavidez’s offense was shut down for a full minute while he recovered. If his power didn’t hurt Morrell or Gvozdyk, what happens when Yarde walks him down? He’s not going to have the pop in his punches to fight Yarde off. Benavidez will have to depend on his ability to absorb punishment. Against Morrell, he looked all beaten up afterward.
“What I’ve done for this camp, I’ve gone back to the basics, using footwork, using distance, using head movement,” said Benavidez. “We’re going to have to set up traps. These are the bigger guys. So, me walking them down isn’t going to work like how I did it at 168.”
The Moment He Gets Hit…
Benavidez is such a hot-head that it’s impossible to believe he won’t fight the way he always does by going on the attack as soon as he gets hit. He’s one of those fighters who fights on emotion. Benavidez is too trigger-happy for his own good.
He gets a look on his face when he’s nailed, and immediately fires back with combinations. It’s the way Benavidez is, and it’s why he’s taken so much punishment against Morrell and Gvozdyk. Can a fighter who loses his mind when hit really stick to a ‘Game plan’? It’s not realistic. He says he’s going to fight at a distance and use his footwork, but as soon as Yarse nails him with a good shot, he’s going to revert to his old self.
“So, me saying my power didn’t carry, I know for a fact I can hurt these guys. Now, I need to follow the game plan, work behind the jab. I see myself having opportunities to hurt Anthony Yarde. I just have to follow the game plan.”
Cruiserweight Move Becoming Inevitable
If Benavidez hasn’t hurt his last two opponents at 175, it’s hard to believe he’ll start showing power now. His depleted, painfully thin appearance today suggests he could be weak and drained on Saturday, fighting on empty.
If he loses to Yarde, he’ll have a good excuse to tell the fans. It would be smart for Benavidez to move up to cruiserweight at that point rather than staying at 175 to continue putting his body through the wringer, making weight.
