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<\/p>\nA slimmer-looking David Benavidez showed off his hand speed working out today on the mitts, as he prepares for his title defense of his WBC light heavyweight belt against Anthony Yarde in 85 days on November 22nd at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
The Grueling Fight With Morrell<\/p>\n
Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) needs to trim down after gaining pounds after his 12-round unanimous decision victory over David Morrell on February 1, 2025. That fight may have been the most grueling one of Benavidez\u2019s twelve-year professional career. Some of the punches that Morrell landed on Benavidez in rounds 9 through 12 have stopped many light heavyweights.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Mexican Moilar to Benavidez\u2019s previous fight against former WBC 175-lb champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, 2024, he faded late in the championship rounds against Morrell, was knocked down in round 11, and took massive shots in the 12th.<\/p>\n
A History of Fatigue<\/p>\n
Benavidez\u2019s stamina continues to be a concern, as he\u2019s gassed in the later rounds in both of his fights since moving up to the 175-lb division in 2024. The knockouts are no longer coming for Benavidez now that he\u2019s fighting opposition a similar size as him. When Benavidez fought at 168 from 2013 to 2023, he had the size advantage over his opponents and could stand at close range to overwhelm them with volume-punching.<\/p>\n
Since moving up to 175, Benavidez\u2019s power isn\u2019t the same, and he\u2019s getting hit hard using his high-output style. Morrell and Gvozdyk both had Benavidez hurt in their fights.<\/p>\n
A Softer Matchup Against Yarde<\/p>\n
Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) will give Benavidez a break from the tough fights that he\u2019s had, as this is an opponent that fans expect him to figure out quickly, break down, and stop. In Yarde\u2019s two world title shots in the past, he was knocked out by Artur Beterbiev and Sergey Kovalev.<\/p>\n
Then IBF, WBC, and WBO light heavyweight champion Beterbiev walked through some big hooks and uppercuts from Yarde early to knock him down and stop him in the eighth round on January 28, 2023, at the Wembley Arena in London. It was competitive until the seventh round when Beterbiev began pouring it on at close range against the tired-looking Yarde.<\/p>\n
Does Yarde Deserve This Chance?<\/p>\n
Fans question whether Yarde deserves another world title shot after his loss to Beterbiev in 2023. Although Yarde has won his last four fights since his 8th-round TKO loss to Artur, his opposition hasn\u2019t been highly-ranked contenders.<\/p>\n
Yarde\u2019s recent opponents<\/p>\n
Lyndon Arthur
\nRalfs Vilcans
\nMarko Nikolic
\nJorge Silva<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dan Ambrose has been a leading voice at Boxing News 24 for years, known for his no-nonsense takes on the sport. Love him or hate him, Dan has built a strong following thanks to his outspoken analysis, direct opinions, and in-depth coverage of the global boxing scene.<\/p>\n
His articles often spark debate among fans, as he isn\u2019t afraid to challenge popular narratives or question fighters\u2019 performances. Alongside his opinion pieces, Dan provides fight news, previews, and post-fight breakdowns that give readers both detail and perspective.<\/p>\n