DAZN Boxing<\/a> about his frustration that he\u2019s not fighting unified three-belt light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev.<\/p>\nBenavidez will have to keep busy, fighting whoever Turki Alalshikh wants him to. That could mean fighting the winner of the Callum Smith vs. David Morrell fight if it happens. He\u2019s got the size to fight at cruiserweight and heavyweight. So, that\u2019s an iption as well.<\/p>\n
The Trilogy That Won\u2019t Happen<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, it\u2019s like, how long is that going to take? When is that going to happen? We waited a whole year and nothing happened. So, now I\u2019m going around and beating the best in the division. Anthony Yarde is ranked #4 and #5. He\u2019s a great fighter,\u201d said Benavidez.<\/p>\n
By the time Bivol and 40-year-old Beterbiev wind up meeting in their rematch, it might be the end of the road for both. Bivol is coming off back surgery, and who knows if he\u2019ll make it through training camp without a setback. Beterbiev has yet another ailment that has him back on the shelf. They\u2019ve both made so much money that they might not bother to face Benavidez.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, we\u2019re just picking off the great fighters on the side, waiting for the big dogs. I thought the fight with Callum Smith was going to be a treat for the fans. But even the fight with Anthony Yarde will be a treat for the fans,\u201d said Benavidez.<\/p>\n
Yarde, 34, is not a \u201cgreat fighter.\u201d He\u2019s more of a fringe contender at 175. There aren\u2019t any great fighters among the contender ranks at light heavyweight. There are a few notable ones, such as David Morrell, Imam Khataev, Joshua Buatsi, Arlen Lopez, and Artur Beteriev.<\/p>\n
Callum Smith or Morrell Next?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were after Callum Smith a little bit more because a victory over him would have brought me another interim title and put me at an even closer position to fight the champions. After this fight, when we get this victory, we\u2019ll probably get Callum next,\u201d said Benavidez.<\/p>\n
If WBO interim 175-lb champion Callum Smith loses to David Morrell in their ordered fight, Benaviez won\u2019t be fighting him next unless he\u2019s interested in facing him coming off a loss.<\/p>\n
The Danger of a Morrell Rematch<\/p>\n
The one who would have possession of the WBO interim title would be Morrell, and that would be a brutal fight for Benavidez. He\u2019s now trained by Abel Sanchez, who will work on addressing the flaws he showed in his loss to Benavidez and his poor performance against Imam Khataev.<\/p>\n
It wouldn\u2019t be a shock to see Benavidez pass on the idea of fighting Morrell again because he took a lot of punishment against the 27-year-old Cuban last February. If Sanchez does improve Morrell, Benavidez could be heading for his first career defeat if he chooses to face him in a rematch, if the Cuban dethrones Callum Smith.<\/p>\n
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