Robert Garcia: Benavidez would beat Usyk at heavyweight

Trainer Robert Garcia says David Benavidez would beat Oleksandr Usyk if the two ever meet at heavyweight, though he cautioned the fight would not come easy for the newly crowned cruiserweight champion.

Garcia told YSM Sports Media he was unimpressed by Usyk's performance against Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza earlier this month, where the Ukrainian stopped the kickboxing legend in the 11th round. "It wasn't one of those performances that I expected from Usyk," Garcia said, per The Ring. "I wasn't expecting it."

Benavidez's path from cruiserweight to heavyweight

Benavidez captured WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles with a sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto Ramirez on May 2, adding to the WBC light heavyweight belt he already holds. Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh has floated a potential Usyk clash for 2027, though Benavidez has said he does not plan to campaign at heavyweight for another five years.

Garcia backed his prediction despite Usyk's status as the undisputed heavyweight champion. "I think Benavidez beats Usyk," he said. "I know it won't be easy, but I do believe Benavidez beats him."

For now, Benavidez has his sights set on a light heavyweight unification with Dmitry Bivol, who holds The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO straps at 175 pounds. Usyk is expected to face Agit Kabayel next in his heavyweight defence.

Source: ringmagazine.com