David Benavidez Says He Can Knock Out Dmitry Bivol After Ramirez Bout

Benavidez eyes 175-pound clash with Dmitry Bivol while stepping up to cruiserweight to face Gilberto Ramirez

David Benavidez says he wants a knockout over Dmitry Bivol as he prepares to face Gilberto Ramirez this weekend. The move to cruiserweight comes with his long-term aim still set on a 175-pound showdown.

Benavidez faces unified champion Gilberto Ramirez on Saturday night, marking a major move up in weight after his recent run at light-heavyweight.

The 27-year-old built his name at 168, then moved to 175 in 2024, where he outpointed Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell to secure a version of the WBC title. He later stopped Anthony Yarde in November for his first knockout win since moving up.

Despite the cruiserweight test against Ramirez, Benavidez says his long-term focus remains at 175, and that includes a direct target.

Benavidez said a fight with Bivol stands out above the rest.

“For me, the hardest fight in the 175-lb division is against Bivol. He keeps his distance very well and has beaten everybody, but I know I can beat him,” said Benavidez to Boxing News.

“Not only can I beat him, I can knock him out. The last time we sparred [around seven years ago], I had him really hurt in the fourth round. I almost dropped him with a 10-punch combination.

“For me, stopping Bivol is the biggest statement I could possibly make.”

Bivol, who has never been down in his professional career, is still tied to ongoing talks for a third fight with Artur Beterbiev, which could delay any immediate move toward Benavidez.

Knocking out Dmitry Bivol is a tall order for anyone, especially considering the defensive masterclass he usually puts on. When you look at the evidence from Benavidez’s recent run at 175, there are definitely some hurdles that make a KO prediction feel like a stretch.

For Benavidez to get the KO, he needs Bivol to be old and to solve a defensive puzzle that even Beterbiev couldn’t fully crack. Bivol’s high guard and in-and-out footwork are designed specifically to neutralize high-volume punchers.

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