David Benavidez is on the Fast Track to the Hall of Fame

5
Anthony Yarde

Date: November 22, 2025

Location: ANB Arena, Riyadh

Result: Benavidez TKO 7

Summary: Benavidez’s first defense of the WBC light heavyweight world title came against dangerous British puncher Yarde. After a back-and-forth start, Benavidez systematically dismantled Yarde, bloodying his nose and swelling his eyes by the sixth round. In the seventh, “The Monster” unloaded on the wobbled Yarde, dropping him and forcing the referee to stop the beatdown. It was a statement win that cleared the path for his move to cruiserweight and the upcoming mega-fight with Zurdo Ramirez.

4
Anthony Dirrell

Date: September 28, 2019

Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles

Result: Benavidez KO 9

Summary: Still only 22, Benavidez regained the WBC super middleweight world title he had previously lost outside of the ring. Two-time world champion Dirrell used his experience to keep the fight competitive early. However, the youth and relentless volume of Benavidez eventually took over. A series of flurries in the ninth round forced Dirrell’s corner to throw in the towel, making Benavidez a two-time world champion and the youngest ever to achieve that feat in the division’s history.

3
David Morrell Jr.

Date: February 1, 2025

Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Result: Benavidez UD 12

Summary: In a clash of the two most avoided men in the light heavyweight division, Benavidez handed the highly touted Cuban sensation the first loss of his pro career. This was perhaps Benavidez’s most competitive fight, featuring over 1,000 combined punches thrown. Benavidez showed the heart of a champion. He out-worked and out-landed Morrell, using a punishing body attack and superior accuracy (40% to Morrell’s 27%) to secure a unanimous decision. The win unified the interim WBC and WBA light heavyweight world titles and silenced any doubters regarding his move to 175 pounds.

2
Caleb Plant

Date: March 25, 2023

Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas

Result: Benavidez UD 12

Summary: The rivalry with Plant was personal, bitter, and reached a boiling point at the MGM Grand. After years of trash talk, the two finally met to settle the score. It was a brilliant contest. Plant used his movement and jab to control the early rounds, but Benavidez’s underrated boxing skills, pressure, and overall will to win proved to be the difference. He took over the second half of the fight, landing heavy power shots that bloodied the former champion. Despite Plant’s incredible heart and survival instincts, Benavidez won a clear unanimous decision victory, proving he could excel in a high-stakes, 12-round tactical war.

1
Demetrius Andrade

Date: November 25, 2023

Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

Result: Benavidez TKO 6

Summary: Benavidez capped off a banner 2023 with his finest victory. Facing the undefeated two-division champion Andrade, Benavidez started patiently, allowing “Boo Boo” to find some rhythm early. The tide turned for good in the fourth round, when Benavidez dropped Andrade with a thunderous right hand at the end of the stanza. His suffocating pressure and blistering combinations wore Andrade down, forcing the latter’s corner to stop the fight after the sixth round and cementing Benavidez’s status as a pound for pounder.

For a closer look at Benavidez vs Zurdo, check out our fight night page.