David Benavidez\u2019s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, reports that he\u2019s working on a fight with WBO interim light heavyweight champion Callum Smith for October. He says he\u2019s open to staging the fight in the UK for the \u201cright deal.\u201d The other two possible locations are Dallas and Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Benavidez vs. Smith: October Fight<\/strong><\/p>\n It would be a difficult one for Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs), who was elevated to WBC light heavyweight champion status last April when the previous beltholder, Dmitry Bivol, opted to face Artur Beterbiev in a trilogy rather than defend against him. At the time, Benavidez held the WBC interim belt.<\/p>\n Benavidez, 28, absorbed a lot of punishment from David Morrell in his last fight on February 1st, and he might have lost it if the Cuban talent had boxed him in the first half of the fight instead of slugging in a toe-to-toe manner. In the second half, Morrell came on to get the better of an exhausted, beat-up-looking Benavidez.<\/p>\n Smith (31-2, 22 KOs) doesn\u2019t possess the skills to box Benavidez. So, if the fight happens, he\u2019s going to slug it out with him at close range and make it a war. It\u2019ll be another grueling fight for \u2018The Mexican Monster\u2019, but he could get Callum out of there if he can withstand his body shots.<\/p>\n Benavidez\u2019s Vulnerability: Body Shots<\/strong><\/p>\n What makes Smith dangerous for Benavidez is his body punching. David was hurt to the body in his fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk last year. That is an area that is clearly Benavidez\u2019s Achilles\u2019 heel.<\/p>\n Most of his opponents during his career have targeted his brick-like head<\/strong>, choosing to take advantage of his nonexistent defense. It doesn\u2019t work. Benavidez can take headshots well. Although Morrell dropped him late in the fight, he got up and continued fighting well. If Callum can attack Benavidez\u2019s body, he may bring him to heel and score a stoppage.<\/p>\n