I can see Benavidez taking Zurdo’s title in destructive fashion here. I’m hearing that after that he might come back down to take on Beterbiev and Bivol.
IMO that could be a shame, because I believe a mega fight between Benavidez and Jai Opetaia could be a fight for the ages.
And I love Jai, he’s probably my fave current fighter all round to watch and to listen to, but I reckon Benavidez might just have too much for him if the weight suits him (which I’m 100% confident it will)
I’m also worried if about how Benavidez gets back down to 175. If he does it wrong and is weak , Bivol and/or Beterbiev will pounce on that.
And as time goes on, he’ll get less credit for beating an aging Beterbiev and a mid thirties recovering from injury Bivol.
Move on , move up and chase greatness.
zurdo has never really impressed me but he’s recorded some good wins at cruiser. i doubt david b stops him but i think he’ll dominate. jai will be avoided again though
Is there any doubt that Zurdo will tip in no less than 220-ville on fight night? Just a pattern, the guy is massive has always puffed up huge fight night. I thought he looked good v Smith. Even some small adjustments and fluid…just a little ;D. I think Benevidez will wear the weight fine and adjust but no matter who it is I hold a small spot for questions anytime a fighter comes up in multi divisions, and one of their biggest assets is volume and speed. But David has his own big frame too. Best case can see the activity and speed differences early on resembling night and day as the fight plays out.
Both have high volume and this is going to be an exciting contest. I really like Benavedez and rate him for taking on these challenges when others are not doing anything waiting for opportunities they don’t deserve.
Jai will crush both of these two. He is the real monster of the division.
Yep quality clash but did come a bit out of left field. But David can’t wait forever for champs to fight him. I’m not sure what Jai crushes at this point as he’s been running sideways and let him crush a Glanton first. Class fighter no doubt avoided by Zurdo, but crushing a Benavidez is another thing. They actually can relate in terms of being avoided though.
david b could have gone after jai’s lineal title, he chose zurdo’s belts instead & there is talk of him going back down, maybe jai can pick up the vacant belts if that’s the case
I’ve been a fan of Benavidez ever since he publicly chased Canelo and exposed Canelo’s ducking. But beside that… Benavidez is super exciting to watch. You don’t get cheated when you watch him fight. That being said, I think cruiser is a bit of a wasteland, and yeah… David would likely get slaughtered by Jai. I think he’d be better served by staying at light heavy.
Always been the running joke that Zurdo will come in a smaller heavyweight but I hear many saying well basically, so will Benavidez. Which can’t be argued. But Zurdo is for lack of a better term a functional unofficial heavyweight. He’s been there and walks around fight night as such multiple times. I keep thinking of Benavidez being slightly winded in small gaps late on. Spots where he’s not outside but still counting on physicality and in range, especially getting a guy on the ropes to woek. This to me is where Zurdo is the most dangerous and if he can get to David I really do think it will be underneath being a southpaw. He knows how to close on his range too. That is a legit danger zone he can catch guys in. I’m def siding with Benavidez…the volume the engine and undeniable mental make up. He knows his range early and works it very well, body too. But I do wonder if his steely eyed determination and even pride can be a double edge sword at the wrong time. I can see him being sucked into exchanges when/if those stamina lulls kick in. Because frankly he’ll have too. Laying in grinding upper bodies with Zurdo is no bueno. As said earlier the speed difference will be night and day between the two…but Zurdo is arguably the bigger 1 shot hitter and he can work those wide awkward angles. Uppercuts! Benavidez is coming up and while he’s proven he carries it well, he is still coming up 190. And I guess I tend to always see that as an on the back burner reality that cannot be just assumed. Still picking Benavidez U.12 but do see it closer now and an early mind field that he’ll have to keep his head level in and pick the bursts smart.
