David Benavidez Must Show More Desire If He Really Wants The Oleksandr Usyk Fight

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Recent comments from Benavidez suggest that the Usyk fight is more than just a myth. He said he has no intention of moving up to heavyweight for his next fight or the one after that one, which would put him out of the running for Usyk’s farewell fight. He added that he has no intention of moving up to heavyweight in his next or subsequent fight. That comment doesn’t fit Usyk’s timeline.

At 39, Usyk has often spoken of having “one last dance” before retiring. If that’s true, Benavidez’s cautious approach will likely leave him watching on the sidelines while someone else gets a chance.

That’s a shame because Usyk represents the biggest challenge to be found anywhere in boxing.

Benavidez has built a reputation for chasing elite fighters, but there’s a big difference between targeting veteran champions like Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev at light heavyweight and stepping up to face boxing’s biggest pros.

Bivol and Beterbiev were placed in divisions that Benavidez would naturally reach. Usyk is a true heavyweight champion who has already won the division after becoming the undefeated cruiserweight champion. Even though he no longer has titles, he is still one of the best players in the game.

Former four-division champion Roy Jones Jr. believes that Benavidez should take this fight, calling it a matchup that could make history. Benavidez’s father, Jose Benavidez Sr., also described Usyk as his son’s biggest challenge. The fighter himself, however, seems less determined.

No one should criticize Benavidez for wanting to climb the right way. Heavyweight is unlike any other division, where opponents can outweigh you by 30, 40, or even 60 pounds on fight night. But greatness often requires extraordinary risks.

If Benavidez really wants to cement his legacy as one of boxing’s most ambitious champions, a fight with Usyk is a career-defining type of challenge. He will need to leave the comfort of the standard weight classes and face the elite heavyweight on his own terms.

Based on Benavidez’s recent comments, that jump doesn’t appear to be on his agenda.

If Usyk retires after one more fight, the opportunity may disappear before Benavidez decides he’s ready.

Benavidez absolutely lacks that throwaway, risk-taking mentality that creates true legends. His comments are full of the usual, overly cautious excuses about honoring weight classes and needing years to get his body in shape. If you want greatness, you take the plunge when opportunity is staring you in the face.

Look at what just happened in Egypt. Rico Verhoeven, a kickboxer with zero boxing experience, recently came out and completely exposed Usyk. Verhoeven was off the scorecards and making Usyk look ordinary until a stoppage with one second left in the 11th round saved Usyk’s undefeated record.

If a kickboxer can do that to Usyk right now, a young, relentless presser like Benavidez would have a great chance to completely dismantle him.

Instead, Benavidez wants to stay in his comfort zone, talking about taking his time, while Usyk is clearly planning his last match in the United States before retiring. By the time Benavidez feels his body is “fully prepared,” Usyk will be gone.

It’s a wonderful missed opportunity. Benavidez would rather play it safe against older, younger heavyweights like Bivol and Beterbiev or take belts against flawed cruiserweights instead of chasing a record-breaking fight. If he allows this window to close, he will spend the rest of his career wondering what would have happened if he had had the momentum to step up.