Renowned boxing trainer Robert Garcia has predicted that David Benavidez would defeat Oleksandr Usyk if the two square off in the heavyweight division.
Speaking in interviews with ES News and YSM Sports Media, Garcia expressed confidence that the fighter known as “The Mexican Monster” could overcome the unified heavyweight champion should the bout materialise within the next 18 months.
The trainer’s assessment follows Benavidez’s recent conquest of the cruiserweight division, where he stopped Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in the sixth round to claim the WBA and WBO titles.
Robert Garcia based his bold prediction on Oleksandr Usyk’s most recent outing against Rico Verhoeven on May 23, 2026. Performing at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Usyk secured an 11th-round stoppage victory that many observers, including Garcia, found underwhelming. “It wasn’t one of those performances that I expected from Usyk,” Garcia stated.
He noted that with Usyk’s age—which Garcia described as “nearly 40 already”—the champion might be increasingly vulnerable to the younger, aggressive Benavidez in the coming years.
While Garcia is eager for the matchup, the 29-year-old David Benavidez has remained more conservative regarding his move to the maximum weight class. Reports indicate that David Benavidez has stated he does not plan to campaign at heavyweight for another five years.
His immediate focus involves defending his 175 and 200-pound titles simultaneously, aiming to become the first boxer in history to hold and defend belts in both categories at the same time.
Robert Garcia believes youth and volume favor David Benavidez
The veteran trainer suggested that Benavidez should take two or three more bouts at cruiserweight to acclimate before making the leap to face world-class heavyweights. Garcia argues that the “Mexican Monster” possesses the work rate and chin to bypass traditional heavyweight contenders.
In fact, Garcia dismissed the idea of a developmental fight against top contenders like Frank Sanchez, stating Sanchez is “not a big name” and that Benavidez should go “straight into Usyk.”
The physical toll of Usyk’s career was a primary factor in Garcia’s reasoning. He suggested that if the fight takes place roughly two years from now, the age gap will play a decisive role. While com/eddie-hearn-usyk-rico-verhoeven-egypt-historic-moment/”>Eddie Hearn described the Usyk-Verhoeven Egypt bout as a historic occasion, the controversial nature of the 11th-round finish has given analysts like Garcia reason to question the Ukrainian’s longevity. Garcia believes Benavidez’s pressure would be too much for the veteran technician.
David Benavidez and his rapid rise through weight classes
Benavidez currently holds a perfect record of 32-0 with 26 knockouts, maintaining an 81% knockout ratio. His journey to three-division world champion status began in earnest at 168 pounds before he made his light-heavyweight debut on June 15, 2024.
In that appearance, he defeated Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk via a 12-round unanimous decision to capture the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight World Title. Since then, he has added the WBA Light Heavyweight and cruiserweight honors to his collection.
Despite the heavyweight talk, the boxing world is still waiting for a definitive resolution regarding a potential Saul Canelo Alvarez demand for $150 million to face Benavidez.
If that superfight or unifications at 175 pounds against the likes of Dmitry Bivol do not materialise, the lure of the heavyweight crown may prove difficult to ignore for the ambitious Benavidez. For now, however, he appears content to dominate the divisions where he currently holds gold.
Oleksandr Usyk faces mandatory obligations and age concerns
The heavyweight landscape remains complicated for Oleksandr Usyk, who currently holds a record of 25-0. Following the victory in Giza, the champion must now consider a mandatory challenge from Agit Kabayel. While there is internal discussion regarding his next steps, Usyk’s team has remained focused on defending his unified status.
They recently addressed the Verhoeven bout, claiming that the referee’s intervention prevented a more “brutal and dangerous” knockout of the challenger.
Robert Garcia’s prediction hinges on the idea that Usyk’s physical peak is behind him. “I think that Benavidez beats Usyk two years from now,” Garcia reiterated, emphasizing that the wear and tear of a long career will eventually catch up to the champion.
Whether Benavidez is willing to accelerate his timeline to catch Usyk before the Ukrainian retires remains the central question for fans and promoters alike.
Future outlook for the heavyweight divisional crown
If David Benavidez were to deviate from his five-year plan and move up early, he would be entering a division that may soon see a changing of the guard. With major stars moving toward the end of their careers, the arrival of a high-volume power puncher from the lower weights could disrupt the current hierarchy.
Benavidez has already proven he can carry his power up to 200 pounds, but the leap to heavyweight represents the ultimate test for any elite fighter’s chin and stamina.
