David Benavidez wants to believe Dmitry Bivol.

The WBC light heavyweight champ hopes his former sparring partner actually wants to fight him. Maybe it’s wishful thinking because Benavidez realizes he needs Bivol to fully unify the 175-pound crowns.

Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) admitted he got the same aggravating vibes when Bivol vacated the WBC belt that Canelo Alvarez gave up when the Mexican superstar avoided him. Because Bivol fought Artur Beterbiev twice, however, Benavidez is optimistic about getting the opportunity to take The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO titles from the Russian champion once he recovers from back surgery.

“This is kind of like what was going on with Canelo,” Benavidez told The Ring. “But I wouldn’t rule it out. I think Dmitry Bivol is more of a man of his word than Canelo. If they mandate the fight again, then I’m sure it’ll happen. But I don’t really wanna bash him too much because he did have back surgery and he did have two great fights with Artur Beterbiev. So, when he’s ready to fight I’m gonna be right here, waiting for him.”

Phoenix’s Benavidez, who will defend his title against Anthony Yarde on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was elevated from interim champion because Bivol didn’t want to fight him next. Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) gave up his WBC belt seven months ago rather than making a mandated defense versus Benavidez, who won the interim title by unanimously outpointing Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June 2024 in Las Vegas.

Benavidez envisions Bivol facing an opponent less dangerous than him when he returns next year. He hasn’t fought since he beat Beterbiev by majority decision in their 12-round rematch February 22 in Riyadh.

If Bivol basically takes a tune-up bout, Benavidez won’t wait around for his belts.

Benavidez, 28, would prefer to box Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) after he beats Bivol. Assuming the heavily favored Benavidez beats Yarde in the main event of “The Ring IV: Night of the Champions” card, he considers Callum Smith (31-2, 22 KOs), the WBO interim champ, and WBA/WBO cruiserweight champ Gilberto Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) as the most appealing alternatives for his first fight of 2026.

Benavidez is open to moving up to cruiserweight for one fight and returning to light heavyweight if he can’t battle Bivol next.

“The good thing is for me is that we have a lotta options on the table,” Benavidez said. “We have Beterbiev on the table. We have ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on the table. So, it doesn’t really matter to me. If he’s gonna [fight someone else], I would rather fight the best Dmitry Bivol out there, as opposed to fighting a Dmitry Bivol that’s still hurt. I don’t want him to give excuses, like, ‘Oh, I wasn’t a hundred percent ready.’ I wanna beat these fighters at their absolute best, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.”

England’s Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) is The Ring’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight, two spots beneath Benavidez, who is ninth on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list.