David Benavidez’s Upcoming Fight in Saudi Arabia
In an exciting announcement, David Benavidez is set to make his debut in Saudi Arabia this November as he defends his WBC light heavyweight championship. Following a victory over David Morrell Jr. earlier this year in February, Benavidez will participate in the highly anticipated Riyadh Season event.
Matchup Against Anthony Yarde
On the opposing side, two-time world title challenger Anthony Yarde will step into the ring after negotiations with Callum Smith fell through. Confirmation of this matchup was provided through social media by Turki Alalshikh, the owner of Ring Magazine, who remarked:
“The Mexican Monster, David Benavidez, will make his Riyadh Season debut this November against the formidable Anthony Yarde.”
Yarde’s Career Highlights
Yarde is known for his near-upset of Sergey Kovalev in 2019, almost stopping the Russian fighter before ultimately losing, which paved the way for Kovalev to face Canelo Álvarez later that year. Should Yarde emerge victorious in this bout, it would open opportunities for him to compete for a title match against Canelo, as he adds another title shot following his previous victories, including a notable win against Lyndon Arthur in April that elevated his record to 27-3.
Benavidez’s Impressive Record
Although Yarde’s resume also includes losses to Artur Beterbiev in 2023, his matchup against the undefeated Benavidez (30-0), who has an impressive record of 24 knockout wins, poses a significant challenge. Before this upcoming fight, Benavidez enjoyed a remarkable reign in the super middleweight division before advancing to the light heavyweight class, where he claimed the interim WBC title.
Champion Status
This elevation to champion status came in April when Dmitry Bivol announced his upcoming trilogy fight against Beterbiev scheduled for 2025, solidifying Benavidez’s status in the division.
