David Benavidez is closing on a crucial phase of his career where three fights, in particular, could see him become boxing’s next pound-for-pound king.

The 29-year-old became a three-division world champion in May, dethroning Gilberto Ramirez with a sixth-round finish for the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles.

Since then, Benavidez has flirted with the idea of moving back down to light-heavyweight but now appears set to remain at 200lbs.

He is, after all, the mandatory challenger to Michal Cieslak, who was elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion following Noel Mikealian’s ninth-round stoppage defeat to Jai Opetaia last weekend.

Benavidez is therefore likely to enter a three-belt unification match with Cieslak on December 12, before targeting a more appealing clash with Opetaia for Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2027.

With ‘The Mexican Monster’ having one fight remaining on his Premier Boxing Champions contract, too, he may embrace the opportunity to become a free agent and work with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Either way, father and trainer Jose Benavidez Sr has expressed his interest in the Opetaia fight, while also telling BOXING n BBQ that he would entertain showdowns with Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.

Jose Benavidez Sr. reveals the HIT LIST he and David have in mind‼️

🥊 Jai Opetaia NEXT
🥊 Artur Beterbiev
🥊 Dmitry Bivol
🥊MAYBE move up to HEAVYWEIGHT👀 pic.twitter.com/F09Rijy83I

— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) September 17, 2026

While still the unified king at 175lbs, Bivol has previously teased a move up to cruiserweight and Beterbiev, especially at this stage in his career, would surely benefit from making the same 25-pound jump.

As for Benavidez’s long-term future, though, it appears that his father is keen for a move up to heavyweight, where the former super-middleweight champion would look to follow in the footsteps of Roy Jones Jr.