David Benavidez feels like Caleb Plant has to face him next

Super middleweight David Benavidez has David Lemieux next, but he senses that a showdown with Caleb Plant is nearing fast. 

David Benavidez is prepared for his upcoming May 21 boxing bout against David Lemieux, but the former champion has an eye on the future in the form of longtime enemy Caleb Plant.

In terms of grudge matches, Benavidez vs. Plant would probably be at the top of the list. They’ve traded insults for years, and you feel that it’s personal between them.

Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) and Plant are two of the top names at super middleweight. Both are former titleholders and have impressive records. Benavidez is undefeated, and Plant suffered his only loss to Canelo Alvarez in November.

There was talk of them fighting years ago when they both possessed world titles. As super middleweight champions, a competitive nature was natural, but the venom between them grew over time.

There’s the viral 2018 gym video of a scuffle between Benvidez’s brother Jose and Plant. They’ve openly discussed their distaste for each other, so a fight between them would be incredibly marketable.

To Benavidez, a matchup between them makes all the sense in the world.

“I feel like Caleb Plant now, he doesn’t really have any other route to go,” Benavidez told FanSided. “I think he’s gonna get a tune-up fight with Anthony Dirrell, but I feel like that’s the fight that makes sense.”

Watch David Benavidez vs. David Lemieux on Saturday, May 12, on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET

Benavidez didn’t express any malice towards Plant while speaking to FanSided, but business and career-wise, it’s the logical move for Benavidez.

“Because [Jermall] Charlo, I mean, let’s be let’s be honest, that’s a fight that I would love to make happen, and that’s a fight that I would love to make happen for the fans,” Benavidez said. “But Charlo, he’s just a talker. He has no desire to fight anybody. You know, so I feel like, in reality, the Charlo fight is a little bit further away than the Caleb Plant fight. I think the Caleb Plant fight, if everything goes good May 21, I think that fight can be made by the end of this year.”

Plant hasn’t fought since being stopped by Alvarez, but at 29 years old, Plant is still a player in the division. Both are PBC fighters managed by Al Haymon, so maybe Benavidez has the inside track on Plant’s orbit, but he’s not shy about calling out his next shot.

Alvarez is still the undisputed super middleweight champion despite losing a light heavyweight contest to Dmitry Bivol. Most expect Alvarez to fight a trilogy bout with Gennadiy Golovkin or a rematch with Bivol.

Benavidez’s next fight with Lemieux at Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ, is for the interim WBC super middleweight title and mandatory status for the full title held by Alvarez, but that’s no guarantee that fight would be made next, considering the previously mentioned scenario.

Lemieux (43-4, 36 KOs) is no walkover. He possesses good punching power, but at 33 years old, the Canadian boxer has taken some abuse in both his wins and losses.

Still, Benavidez has a healthy respect for Lemieux, who he enjoyed watching as a teenager.

“But David Lemieux is a fighter that I’ve seen for a long, long time,” Benavidez said. “I’ve actually been a fan of him when I was younger. I’m not gonna say I’m a fan of him now, but I do like his fighting style.”

Since his 2017 decision loss to Billy Joe Saunders, Lemieux is riding a five-fight winning streak. Benavidez and Lemieux are both action fighters that aren’t hard to find.

However, when most fight Benavidez head-on, they end up knocked out.

Benavidez vs. Lemieux could be an entertaining matchup. It will also be fun to see if Benavidez vs. Plant is on tap if Benavidez is the victor.