Benavidez Sr: David can fight Beterbiev next after Ramirez win

Jose Benavidez Sr. says his son approached Artur Beterbiev about a potential matchup before the Russian's November bout with Anthony Yarde — contradicting recent comments from Beterbiev that suggested the opposite.

Beterbiev told Match TV he accepted a fight with WBC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight titlist David Benavidez after the Yarde win, but claimed Benavidez's side passed and picked Gilberto Ramirez instead. Benavidez Sr. denied that version of events in an interview with The Ring, stating his camp reached out to Beterbiev's team first and got turned down.

Benavidez camp prefers Bivol but will take Beterbiev

"We went to Artur Beterbiev and his team before the Anthony Yarde fight but they weren't interested," Benavidez Sr. told The Ring. "We have no problem fighting Beterbiev next. There's no need for trash talk. Let's make the fight happen."

The elder Benavidez confirmed that Dmitry Bivol remains the priority target, as a win over Bivol would make David undisputed at heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight. Bivol holds The Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBO straps after outpointing Beterbiev in a February rematch. Beterbiev has been sidelined since, with the pair tied at one win apiece.

Benavidez stopped Yarde in seven rounds last fall, then moved up to cruiserweight and claimed the WBA and WBO titles by halting Ramirez in six rounds in May. Bivol returned from a 15-month layoff in his last outing, defeating Michael Eifert on points. A date for either Beterbiev or Bivol has not been set.

Source: ringmagazine.com