David Benavidez’s dominant win over Gilberto Ramirez has sparked debate about whether the Mexican star could eventually chase a historic heavyweight title. Top-rated trainer Robert Garcia has now weighed in on the discussion.
After ruling at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, Benavidez moved up 25 pounds to cruiserweight and cruised past unified WBO and WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez, stopping the Mexican in the sixth round.
The performance has led many fans to question whether Benavidez should abandon his plans to return to light heavyweight and instead push all the way to heavyweight for a showdown with current unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
If Benavidez captures heavyweight gold, he would join Roy Jones Jr. as only the second fighter to truly reign at both super-middleweight and heavyweight—excluding James Toney’s heavyweight title win, which was later ruled a no-contest due to a failed drug test. ‘The Mexican Monster’ is already the only man to win belts at 168, 175, and 200 pounds.
Speaking to ES News, Garcia—who has trained Anthony Joshua, Jesse Rodriguez, and Nonito Donaire—expressed his belief that Benavidez could dethrone Usyk within two years.
“I think Benavidez beats Usyk two years from now. Usyk is nearly 40 already, so imagine two years from now, Benavidez beats him,” Garcia said.
Whether Usyk will stick around that long is uncertain. The two-weight undisputed champion is set to fight kickboxer Rico Verhoeven this month and has said he will compete twice more before seriously considering retirement.
With plenty of contenders already standing in line for a shot at the Ukrainian, a Benavidez fight remains a distant possibility—especially since Benavidez himself seems focused on dropping back down in weight rather than moving up. Still, he has expressed plans to eventually test the heavyweight division, and if Garcia believes he can beat someone as talented as Usyk—even with age playing a factor—he would likely back him against many other heavyweights.
