The light heavyweight division has recently been defined by Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. With their head-to-head record tied at one win each, a third fight seems logical to settle the score. However, the WBC`s mandatory fight order for Bivol against interim champion David Benavidez led Bivol to vacate his belt to prioritize the Beterbiev trilogy. This raises questions about the division`s direction: What is the current state of the 175-pound weight class? And will Benavidez get his opportunity to compete for the undisputed championship?
Adding to the boxing scene, a significant event is scheduled for May 2nd in New York`s Times Square, featuring three compelling matchups. Ryan Garcia will headline against Rolando `Rolly` Romero in a welterweight bout. Devin Haney, a former undisputed junior welterweight champion, is moving up in weight to face Jose Ramirez, a former unified champion. Additionally, WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez will defend his title against interim champion Arnold Barboza Jr. Despite the star power on this card, some wonder if better matchups could have been made. Garcia, despite headlining, has never competed for, let alone won, a major world title. Is he capable of achieving this?
Numerous talented young boxers are working their way up the rankings, all aiming for a shot at a world title. Among those who haven`t yet reached the top, who stands out as the best?
In the heavyweight division, unified champion Oleksandr Usyk has two viable options for his next title defense: Joseph Parker, the interim WBO titleholder, or Daniel Dubois, the IBF champion whom Usyk previously defeated by knockout in August 2023. Which of these potential matchups would make for a more exciting fight?
Andreas Hale and Nick Parkinson offer their perspectives on these pressing questions in the boxing world.
The Light Heavyweight Division`s Status After Dmitry Bivol Vacates a Title
The light heavyweight division is currently in a holding pattern.
One has to sympathize with Benavidez. He made every effort to secure a fight with Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight, but it didn`t materialize. Once it became clear Alvarez wasn`t interested, Benavidez moved up to light heavyweight. Victories over Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell positioned him for a fight against the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch winner. However, this opportunity is now delayed as Bivol chose to vacate his title and pursue a third fight with Beterbiev instead of facing Benavidez. This situation isn`t ideal for a division considered top-heavy, as it creates the impression that no one wants to face Benavidez.
While a third Bivol-Beterbiev fight is appealing, it`s time to introduce new dynamics and allow Benavidez, who has rightfully earned his shot, to face the division`s best. Preventing him from these opportunities after he earned a fight with Bivol is detrimental to the division`s health. What should Benavidez do in the meantime? Fights against Callum Smith or Joshua Buatsi are possibilities, but they feel like a step down. The light heavyweight division is hindering a fighter with significant star potential from reaching his peak. Bivol and Beterbiev can have their trilogy fight at any point; let`s see what Benavidez is capable of so the division can progress. — Hale
More Exciting Matchups for the May 2nd Times Square Card
With Tyson Fury, a former world heavyweight champion, seemingly retired, Lopez and Garcia are arguably the most outspoken figures in boxing today. A fight between them would undoubtedly generate significant pre-fight hype and strong pay-per-view sales.
However, they are set to face different opponents in New York, potentially making a future clash more distant. Garcia is headlining against Romero, and Lopez is defending his WBO junior welterweight title against Barboza, all on the same card. The prevailing narrative suggests that wins for both Garcia and Haney could lead to a rematch in Saudi Arabia in October. Yet, many boxing enthusiasts would prefer to see Lopez vs. Garcia for a world title. Such a matchup would likely be a bigger draw than their currently scheduled fights on May 2nd.
A Lopez vs. Garcia fight has the potential to capture the attention of a broader audience beyond dedicated boxing fans. Boxing needs events that attract new viewers, and this matchup is one of the most significant available to be made.
Both fighters, especially Garcia, have substantial social media followings: Garcia boasts 12.1 million Instagram followers, while Lopez has 993,000. It`s a clash of East Coast (Lopez from New York) versus West Coast (Garcia from California) personalities.
Lopez recently slapped Barboza at a press conference promoting their fight. When asked about his reaction if Lopez had done the same to him, Garcia responded, `I would have tried to kill him.`
It seems inevitable that they will face each other eventually – it`s just unfortunate it`s not happening in Times Square on what promises to be a memorable night. — Parkinson
Ryan Garcia`s Chances of Becoming a World Champion
Yes.
Ryan Garcia`s career has been, to say the least, eventful. While he is perhaps more famous for his activities outside the ring, he embodies an `Oscar De La Hoya mentality,` consistently seeking out fights against the biggest and best opponents. His approach didn`t succeed against Gervonta `Tank` Davis. Questions also linger about his performance in the victory – later overturned to a no contest – against Haney, given his weight issues and failed drug test. However, Garcia is still young at 26 and continues to develop. His natural athleticism is undeniable, and his powerful left hook is among the most dangerous punches in boxing.
A high-stakes rematch with Haney is likely if both fighters win their upcoming May 2nd bouts. But even if he doesn`t defeat Haney, Garcia is likely to secure a world title fight against someone outside the top pound-for-pound rankings. While unified champion Jaron `Boots` Ennis may not stay at 147 pounds for long, potentially moving for a lucrative fight with Garcia, if Ennis does move up, Garcia would be favored against most current 147-pounders. It seems only a matter of time before Garcia claims a world title. — Hale
Usyk vs. Parker or Usyk vs. Dubois: Which Heavyweight Matchup is Better?
Dubois presents a greater knockout threat and has more pay-per-view appeal than Parker, in addition to being a fellow world champion. For these reasons, a fight with Dubois is a more compelling option for Usyk in June.
Facing Dubois offers Usyk the opportunity to reclaim the undisputed heavyweight championship, holding all four major world titles. Usyk had to relinquish the IBF belt last year to facilitate a rematch with Tyson Fury but could regain it in a rematch with Dubois.
Although Usyk decisively defeated Dubois by a ninth-round knockout in their August 2023 fight, Dubois contested the outcome, claiming he should have been credited with a knockdown earlier in the fight. Instead, a punch from Dubois in Round 5 was ruled a low blow, giving Usyk ample recovery time, after which he proceeded to knock out Dubois. This was Usyk`s second heavyweight title defense, and he has indicated plans for two more fights before retiring, like Fury.
Dubois quickly rebounded from the Usyk loss, impressively stopping Anthony Joshua in the first defense of his IBF belt in September, marking a career highlight. However, he had to withdraw from a scheduled fight against Parker in February due to illness.
Parker is currently in good form, with recent decision victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, but his style is more about controlling opponents rather than overwhelming them. He is likely to miss out on a fight with Usyk next.
Dubois adopted an aggressive approach against Usyk in their fight and then delivered a sensational performance against Joshua last year. It`s not just his title that makes him the better opponent for Usyk next. — Parkinson
The Best Boxer Without a World Title Is…
Andy Cruz.
While Diego Pacheco, the undefeated super middleweight contender, is a strong candidate, Andy Cruz`s amateur achievements and early professional career are hard to overlook. Pacheco needs to improve his defense, particularly against the left hook. Cruz, at 29, had an exceptional amateur record of 140-9, including four wins against current WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis.
Cruz`s Cuban boxing style has translated effectively to the professional ranks, characterized by excellent footwork, an active jab, quick reflexes, and superior range control. He is rapidly climbing the lightweight ranks, and a future matchup with Davis seems probable. While he hasn`t yet faced top-tier opponents in the division, a rumored IBF title eliminator fight against Hironori Mishiro could bring him closer to a world title opportunity. — Hale