The pound-for-pound debate in combat sports, especially boxing, is sensitive. Most rankings have Oleksandr Usyk as number one, while others have Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, or Naoya Inoue as the best. Undefeated David Benavidez has now revealed his top 5 pound-for-pound fighters.
Benavidez, the two-time WBC super middleweight champion and current WBC interim super middleweight champion, is not on the pound-for-pound discussion yet. However, many consider him the future of boxing as he is only 27 and is already one of the best. As Alvarez, the undisputed middleweight champion, won’t fight him, Benavidez will make his light heavyweight debut next.
David Benavidez Snubs Canelo Alvarez for Pound-for-Pound Number One Spot
Benavidez is a close acquaintance of former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo. The Mexican-American boxer recently appeared on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, hosted by Cejudo and former UFC pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman. Upon Usman’s insistence, Benavidez named the top 5 pound-for-pound best fighters in boxing.
“In my opinion, I think number one [pound-for-pound] is [Naoya] Inoue, number two is [Oleksandr] Usyk, three is Gervonta Davis, four is [Terence] Crawford, and five is Canelo [Alvarez]. No, no, no, Crawford is four, Canelo is five,” said Benavidez, who initially refused to rank them in an order.
Benavidez would’ve put Alvarez above five but is hesitant because Alvarez has ducked him for a long time. Many predict Benavidez as the only fighter to dethrone Alvarez at super middleweight. His next fight is a light heavyweight title eliminator against Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
Boxing will crown an undisputed light heavyweight champion in Riyadh on October 12. Unified champion Artur Beterbiev will take on WBC champion Dmitry Bivol. Both are undefeated. The winner between the undefeated fighters will face the winner of Gvozdyk vs. Benavidez.
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