David Benavidez has just made a highly successful debut in the cruiserweight division, and some are already calling for him to move up even to heavyweight. Among them is Saudi official Turki Alalshikh, who has expressed interest in organizing a bout between Benavidez and Oleksandr Usyk in 2027. Asked about the possibility, David’s father and trainer, José Benavidez Sr, did not rule out the bold move.
“I woke up and I’m seeing that everywhere. They’re making a big deal of it,” Benavidez’s trainer-father, Jose Benavidez Snr, told BoxingScene Monday. “Anything’s possible. I’ll sit with David and we’ll discuss it.”
The American fighter’s career—now going by “The Monster”—began at super middleweight, before two jumps in weight that led him to win world titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight.
Benavidez Sr said he has great respect for the Ukrainian boxer and fully acknowledges his greatness, but he also pointed out that age could become a factor. Usyk will turn 40 in January 2027, and his exceptional athletic abilities could begin to decline.
David’s father added that the idea of eventually moving up to heavyweight had already crossed their minds, although they had initially planned to make that leap further down the line, within the next five years. Now that the idea has been brought forward by Alalshikh, however, everything could be accelerated.
In any case, Benavidez Sr made it clear that nothing has been decided yet and said he is pleased that Saturday’s victory has opened multiple doors for his son. Now it will be up to them to decide which one to walk through.