Last week, claims that David Benavidez avoided a fight with Artur Beterbiev emerged, suggested as one reason behind the inactivity of the latter.
However, the trainer of ‘The Mexican Monster’ has now denied that suggestion, stating that Beterbiev’s team is ‘lying’ and has called for the fight to be made.
Beterbiev, who has 20 knockouts from his 22 fights, lost the undisputed light-heavyweight world title when he rematched Dmitry Bivol last February, but the Russian-Canadian is yet to fight since, as talks for a third fight with Bivol continue to drag on.
Yet, Beterbiev recently told the media that he had agreed to a fight with undefeated boogeyman, Benavidez, which would have taken place at the beginning of 2026, but that the team of the reigning WBC light-heavyweight ruler ‘changed their mind’.
“Benavidez is such a person that talks a lot more than he does. But, we must admit that it is very competently conducted. He’s already a three-weight world champion, but his boxing is dirty and, of course, there are questions about some of his victories.
“He had a fight with Anthony Yarde and I agreed to come out with him after that fight. Apparently, his team didn’t expect me to agree so quickly, so they immediately changed their mind and chose [Zurdo] Ramirez.
“That was a year ago, in general, this has become the norm in boxing – I will box, I will not, I will choose my opponents – I like this one and I don’t like that one. I have a different mentality – it is alien to me.”
Now, the trainer of newly crowned WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, Benavidez, who prides himself on his willingness to take on all comers, has responded, with his father/coach Jose Benavidez Snr refuting that accusation in an interview with BoxingScene and confirmed they still want the fight with Beterbiev and that it can be made in ‘five minutes’.
“They’re lying. We want to fight him. Let’s make that fight happen. Tell the [Beterbiev] manager to contact me, and we will make that fight happen in five minutes. Do you have his manager’s number? Let’s go.”
“Nothing happened, but we still want to fight him. We’re here to fight anybody. If Beterbiev’s ready, let’s make it happen. Who wants to fight? Let’s see. I think they’re all talk.”
Benavidez is currently being linked to a clash with fellow cruiserweight titlist, Noel Mikaelian, who has been informed that he must face Benavidez in order to avoid being stripped of his WBC world title.