David Benavidez may not have been quite as terrifying at light heavyweight as he was at super middleweight, but he still packed enough punch to secure a 12-round unanimous decision over the highly-rated Oleksandr Gvozdyk at the MGM Grand on Saturday. The judges scored it 119-109, 117-111, and 116-112 in favor of Benavidez.
Making his debut at 175 pounds, Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) showcased impressive intensity and effective body punching, along with some sharp boxing technique. While Gvozdyk wasn’t seriously hurt, he put in a valiant effort despite the defeat.
“I’d rate my performance a seven out of 10,” Benavidez told Premier Boxing Champions in his post-fight interview. “Oleksandr is a great fighter. No wonder he’s a former champion and an Olympic medalist. I feel like I had a great fight and we’re looking to move on.”
Benavidez also revealed that he was still adjusting to the light heavyweight division and had to overcome a cut near his left eye and a torn tendon in his left hand during the fight. Despite these setbacks, he remained unfazed and focused.
Gvozdyk started strong, taking the opening round with sharp left hands and good movement. However, Benavidez quickly took control, winning several rounds in succession with a sharp jab and relentless body shots. Gvozdyk managed to have a brief resurgence in the eighth round, but by then he was too far behind to stage a comeback. The cut on Benavidez’s eye, which he mentioned in his interview, was ruled to have been caused by a punch.
The fight concluded without much fanfare, and the crowd was notably quiet as the final bell rang.
Benavidez, a former two-time super middleweight champion from Phoenix, Arizona, lost his titles outside the ring but has maintained his momentum. Frustrated by his inability to secure a bout with undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez, he decided to move up in weight.
In an interview during fight week, Benavidez expressed his willingness to drop back down to 168 pounds to face Canelo. However, he remains open to opportunities in both weight classes.
“I’m still looking to drop down to 168 and fight for the title,” Benavidez said. “I’d like to win it one more time, whether it’s Canelo or whether he vacates. I would like to fight in both these weight classes and face the Beterbiev-Bivol winner.”
Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin fight card, odds
- Gervonta Davis (c.) def. Frank Martin via KO 8 (1:29) for the WBA lightweight title
- David Benavidez def. Oleksandr Gvozdyk via UD 12 (119-109, 117-111, 116-112) for the interim WBC light heavyweight title
- Alberto Puello def. Gary Antuanne Russell via SD 12 (115-112, 114-113, 110-118) for the interim WBC super lightweight title
- Carlos Adames (c.) def. Terrell Gausha via UD 12 (119-109, 118-110, 118-110) for the WBC middleweight title
