Jones says Benavidez has already proven himself in the lower divisions, but Benavidez insists heavyweight is not part of his immediate plans
Roy Jones Jr. believes David Benavidez should move straight into a heavyweight fight against Oleksandr Usyk following his recent cruiserweight title victory. Benavidez, however, says the physical size difference still makes heavyweight a difficult move right now.
Jones, who famously moved from middleweight all the way to heavyweight during his own Hall of Fame career, believes Benavidez has already done enough in the lower divisions.
“That’s the only fight I want to see him right now,” Roy Jr. said to Pro Boxing Fans about his interest in seeing Benavidez face Usyk at heavyweight.
“You beat everybody else in all the other divisions. Go up and fight Usyk. You know what I mean?
“That’s the best fight for him.”
Benavidez recently captured the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles with his stoppage victory over Gilberto Ramirez, becoming a three-division world champion after previously holding titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight.
Despite growing discussion about a future move to heavyweight, Benavidez has repeatedly said he does not plan to make the jump anytime soon because of the physical size difference.
“You guys keep asking me about heavyweight, stop that shit. I am not coming up to heavyweight,” said Benavidez at the post-fight press conference after his win over Zurdo Ramirez.
“It was hard for me to come up to 200. At heavyweight, those guys are super big.
“But I won’t rule it out. Maybe in five years my body grows into heavyweight. Maybe we can go up there and make a fight in five years.”
Benavidez also said after the Ramirez fight that he still wants to defend titles at cruiserweight and light heavyweight before seriously considering a permanent move above 200 pounds.
Usyk is currently preparing to defend his heavyweight titles later this month in Egypt against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven.