After the Fight: A reason to fear David Benavidez and Janibek Alimkhanuly

David Benavidez and Janibek Alimkhanuly made it harder for the champions in their divisions to avoid them. Here’s why their divisions should be concerned. 

There’s a time when a good boxer transforms into an elite fighter, and in David Benavidez and Janibek Alimkhanuly’s, that time has come.

To be fair, Benavidez proved long ago that he’s worthy of the term “elite.” He’s a two-time super middleweight world champion who twice lost his titles due to instances outside the ring.

Benavidez was stripped of his WBC super middleweight title in 2018 after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, indicating the presence of cocaine. After winning the title from Anthony Dirrell in 2019, Benavidez lost it on the scale before his contest with Roamer Alexis Angulo.

Benavidez has said that he’s his biggest opponent, but at 25 years old, Benavidez has grown in wisdom and ability.

After beating down David Lemieux in three rounds, some may think that the reaction to Benavidez’s win is overblown. When a boxer scores a visually pleasing victory over an outmatched opponent, the win can receive too much praise.

But that’s not the case for Benavidez or Alimkhanuly.

Alimkhanuly is one class lower than Benavidez at middleweight, but he didn’t give poor Danny Dignum a chance. Dignum was brave but out of his league against Alimkhanuly, but Alimkhanuly is an avoided fighter.

Benavidez and Alimkhanuly are in similar positions. They beat the daylights out of their opponents on May 21 and hold interim titles, placing them in the “mandatory challenger” category. Yet, they’re both unlikely to secure a title shot next.

David Benavidez and Janibek Alimkhanuly are interim titlists who could be waiting for quite a while for a full title shot

In Benavidez’s case, Canelo Alvarez is the full WBC champion, but it was officially announced that he’s meeting Gennadiy Golovkin in a trilogy bout on Sept. 17. That move was expected and is a fair play to Alvarez.

Alvarez is the undisputed champion and is trying to regain momentum after his light heavyweight defeat against Dmitry Bivol. He’s also trying to fulfill his contractual obligation to DAZN and Matchroom while netting the most lucrative payday.

Benavidez has no illusions of fighting Alvarez next. The name he mentioned to FanSided was Caleb Plant. While Benavidez bides his time for a title shot, he wants significant names like Plant and Jermall Charlo.

But do they want him?

Benavidez has always been a heavy-handed volume puncher, but he showed improved footwork early against Lemieux. He pushed off his toes and avoided crossing his legs while moving forward.

After knocking down Lemieux in round 2, Benavidez’s footwork grew a bit sloppy, but he already knew the fight was over. Benavidez always had the stamina and power to be a pound-for-pound fighter, but now he also has the discipline, as displayed by his low weight, and his boxing IQ and confidence are soaring.

Right now, Plant might want to think twice before fighting Benavidez. It could be the downfall of his boxing career.

Like Benavidez, Alimkhanuly flashed superior boxing skills. He’s not quite the power puncher Benavidez is, but his hand speed was blindingly fast against Dignum. Alimkhanuly always had a phenomenal amateur pedigree as an Olympian and amateur world champion, but he seems to have figured out the pro game.

His power is coming along nicely, and he has the fastest hands in the middleweight division. Demetrius Andrade holds the WBO title but already proved that he wants no part of Alimkhanuly after electing not to fight him earlier in the year.

Golovkin and Jermall Charlo are the other titleholders, but it’s unlikely that either one wants to face Alimkhanuly. Alimkhanuly lacks Alvarez’s name recognition and fame, but he gained everyone’s respect with his knockout of Dignum.

At 29 years old, Alimkhanuly is in his physical prime. The entire division could vacate their belts rather than fight Alimkhanuly. Golovkin and Charlo are incredible fighters, but they could lose to the B-side Alimkhanuly.

Benavidez and Alimkhanuly are looking for a challenge. Hopefully, someone of substance will answer the call to fight them.