- David Benavidez has opened as a massive -2500 betting favorite to beat Kyrone Davis on Saturday night in Phoenix.
- Benavidez was supposed to fight Jose Uzcategui but the latter was removed from the bout after failing a pre-fight drug test.
- Benavidez is the odds on favorite be Canelo Alvarez’s next opponent at +125 via MyBookie.ag.
David Benavidez is looking at a potential showdown with Canelo Alvarez in 2022. But before Benavidez even thinks about that, he has to take care of business first on Saturday night.
Benavidez is scheduled to face Kyrone Davis this weekend in a bout that will headline SHOWTIME Saturday on November 13th at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Benavidez was supposed to fight former IBF super-middleweight champion Jose Uzcategui in that event but the latter failed a pre-fight drug test and was removed from the fight.
Heavy Betting Favorite
David Benavidez (-2500)
Kyrone Davis (+800)https://t.co/I4Rbf3yStl— ProBoxingOdds (@ProBoxingOdds) November 9, 2021
As it stands now, Benavidez will fight little-known Kyrone Davis, a 26-year old who has a record of 16-2-1 with six knockouts. Although he isn’t the opponent that Benavidez was looking forward to beating on Saturday night, the former 168-pound champion took it in stride and is just focusing on the goal in hand, and that is to regain his belt in a showdown with Canelo Alvarez.
Benavidez has opened as a massive -2500 betting favorite to beat Davis, who tipped the betting lines as a huge +800 bottom dog. This marks the shortest opening odds for Benavidez since he opened as a -3000 betting favorite in his title-winning bout against Ronald Gavril in September 2017. Benavidez has opened and closed in each of his 24 professional bouts and he has not closed at odds longer than -650 in his entire boxing career.
Davis was a +325 betting underdog when he figured in a draw against former world champion Anthony Dirrell last February 27th, in Dirrell’s first bout since losing to Benavidez. Davis’ two losses came against Patrick Day when he challenged for the WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title and to 2012 Olympian Junior Castillo of the Dominican Republic.
Benavidez Favored to be Canelo’s Next Opponent
And here are the odds for Canelo’s next opponent according to @MyBookie:
•Benavidez +125
•Golovkin +200
•Jermall Charlo +400
•Smith Jr +450
•Bivol +500
•Andrade +500
•Beterbiev +650
•Murata +900
•Usman +1500— Corey Erdman (@corey_erdman) November 9, 2021
Online sportsbook MyBookie.ag has opened a futures betting market for Canelo’s next opponent and Benavidez is on top of that list at +125. Gennady Golovkin is second in the MyBookie odds board at +200 while WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo is next at +400.
WBO light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. is next at +450 while WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is listed at +500. Undefeated WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade is also in the mix at +500 as is WBC and IBF light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev at +650. WBA middleweight champion Ryota Murata is also listed at +900 while UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is the only non-professional boxer on the list at +1200.
Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso recently mentioned four names that they are looking at and Benavidez was on top of that hit list that included Charlo, Beterbiev, and Bivol. However, given that Alvarez fights at 168, the obvious choice is Benavidez although he may also be the most dangerous opponent for Canelo. But then again, Benavidez must look good, not just take care of business, this weekend.
