Riyadh Riches: David Benavidez Targets Dmitry Bivol, Not Heavyweight

British heavyweight points to size difference after Benavidez’s cruiserweight debut

Fabio Wardley has questioned whether David Benavidez can move up to heavyweight following his win over Gilberto Ramirez. Wardley pointed to the size difference between divisions as a key factor.

The British heavyweight champion Wardley questioned the logic of such a massive leap in weight following Benavidez’s dominant sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.

“It might be a step too far. There’s a large difference. From where he was before to jump to cruiserweight there’s a difference, and then to go from cruiserweight to heavyweight, there’s an even bigger gap as well,” said Wardley to Fight Hub TV about Benavidez. “It doesn’t seem like anything in the realm of possibility at the moment.”

While Wardley’s assessment of the physical gap is technically sound, it overlooks the financial landscape currently dictating the sport. Benavidez proved he can carry his power up to 200 pounds by becoming the first man to ever stop Ramirez, but his immediate future is about the massive purses waiting for him back at light heavyweight.

A move to heavyweight would require Benavidez to spend significant time proving himself against lower-tier fighters to acclimate to the size difference. Those acclimation bouts do not come with eight-figure Saudi checks. By targeting Bivol and Beterbiev, Benavidez is going after established, aging stars in a division where the money is already flowing.

Wardley’s warning about the “gap” in weight is a physical reality, but for Benavidez, the gap that matters is the one in his bank account. While the boxing world speculates about him fighting heavyweights, Benavidez is following the money toward a showdown with Bivol to secure his financial legacy.

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