LAS VEGAS — Three-weight world champion David Benavidez has officially confirmed his decision to remain in the cruiserweight division, abandoning plans to return to the 175lb light-heavyweight class. The 29-year-old, who captured the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles in May by stopping Gilberto Ramirez, stated that he feels at his physical peak at the 200lb limit.
“No, I am not returning to light-heavyweight,” Benavidez told Ring Magazine. “I feel great at this weight-class, I don’t have to lose weight, I have never felt as good as I did for my last fight. So, I want to be the reigning champion for a long, long time.” Having already vacated his WBA regular belt at light-heavyweight, Benavidez is expected to relinquish his WBC title in that division as well.
This permanent move to cruiserweight effectively ends the possibility of a long-discussed showdown with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. While Alvarez has previously competed at light-heavyweight, a move to the 200lb division is considered unlikely for the Mexican icon. The decision closes the book on a rivalry that failed to materialize during their shared time at 168lbs.
Benavidez now shifts his focus toward unifying the cruiserweight division. He is scheduled to face Michał Cieślak in December with the WBC 200lb belt on the line. A victory in that contest would set the stage for a potential high-profile clash against Jai Opetaia in 2027.