LAS VEGAS (AP) — David Benavidez had a big impact in his light heavyweight debut, defeating Oleksandr Gvozdyk on points on Saturday night to win the WBC interim championship belt.
“I moved up in weight, won every round and dominated a former world champion and Olympian,” Benavidez said.
Well, not every round was like that, with Don Trella scoring it 119-109, Dave Moretti scoring it 117-111 and Zachary Young scoring it 116-112.
But Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) controlled the majority of the fight, forcing Gvozdyk to back off and go on the defensive while also playing the offensive role.
“I hurt him a few times,” said Benavidez, who landed 42.8 percent of his punches. “I couldn’t land many combinations because I re-injured my hand in the third round. I tore a ligament in my right hand four weeks before the fight and injured my left hand during training camp. I also had a cut three weeks ago, but I was able to overcome that and put on a good fight for the fans, so I’m proud of myself.”
At 27, Benavidez is 10 years younger than Gvozdyk (20-2), but moving up from super middleweight didn’t seem to affect him.
By the fourth round, Benavidez was forcing his way into Gvozdyk’s space while peppering the Ukrainian with combinations. Benavidez skillfully picked the rounds to attack the body, and Gvozdyk appeared to absorb many of the early attacks.
Still, the former super middleweight champion, who weighed in at 189 pounds, never seemed intimidated.
Benavidez landed 163 of his 349 power punches (46.7%), including 75 to the body. Gvozdyk landed just 23.3% of his punches (163 of 699) and just 27.8% of his power punches (108 of 388).
“Obviously I wish the call had been different tonight,” Gvozdyk said. “I wish I’d tried a little harder and been a little more aggressive early on.”
“I thought the score was pretty accurate. It was a good match, a close one. He was better in the first half, but I think I was better in the second half. I’d enjoy a rematch against him.”
Benavidez finished at -500 at BetMGM Sportsbook, meaning bettors would need to bet $500 to win $100.
next?
Benavidez has shown he has the boxing chops and his punch combinations are good enough for a heavyweight fight, and the most logical fight would be a huge payday for both men and a showdown with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, something Benavidez has been pursuing ever since.
“It’s going to be a big fight,” Benavidez said, adding that he’ll need some time off to let his hand heal. “Right now, I’m at 175 pounds and these are the big guys. I’m excited to see what’s next in this weight class. I can still go up to 168 and I’ve got a lot to prove.”
“If I can get down to 168 pounds, there are big fights at 168 pounds. I want the opportunity… I want the opportunity to become a four-time world champion, whether it’s against Canelo or whoever it is.”
At the post-fight press conference, Benavidez brought his 3-year-old son Anthony up on stage and, with a flurry of nimble combinations, captured the attention of the crowd, completing the 10-second spectacle. Benavidez was asked who he would like to see step in the ring next to face his father: “Canelo!”
“He’s going to be a world champion,” joked an emotional Benavidez, with a proud smile and tears in his eyes.
The bout was the co-main event, with Gervonta “Tank” Davis successfully defending his WBA lightweight championship belt against Frank Martin.
The bouts were two of four highlights from the 100th Championship Fight Night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a card that drew a crowd of 13,249 fans.
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