When David Benavidez steps into the ring in Riyadh’s ANB Arena to defend his WBC light-heavyweight crown against Britain’s Anthony Yarde, he does so as one of the most astonishing transformation stories in modern boxing.

At 12 years old, Benavidez weighed 18st 6lb (117kg). Today, at 28, the undefeated American has sculpted his body down to 12st 7lb (79kg), becoming a two-weight world champion and one of the most destructive punchers in the sport with an unbeaten record of 30-0 (24 KOs).

His journey from an overweight teen to a global boxing superstar continues to inspire thousands of fans around the world.

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‘I Never Imagined I’d Be Here’: Benavidez’s Early Struggles

Few would have predicted success for a young David Benavidez, whose childhood weight made his boxing dreams seem distant. Images that surfaced online showing Benavidez as a 13-year-old—overweight, sweating through sessions with his father—reveal the scale of the challenge he faced.

“At the time, I would have never imagined I would be one of the biggest fighters in boxing,” Benavidez told BBC Sport.
“But I had faith. I had dedication. I never gave up on myself.”

Benavidez grew up watching his older brother José flourish as an amateur star, pushing him to confront his own weight crisis. A plan was set: lose 100 pounds, reclaim fitness, and give boxing another shot.

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Dropping 100lb and Sparring Gennady Golovkin at 15

Benavidez, born in Phoenix to a tight-knit boxing family, had been introduced to the sport at age three. But it wasn’t until he recommitted at 11 that the transformation truly began.

Over the next few years, he shed the first chunk of weight—from 260lb down to 168lb.

“When I lost that first 100lb, I knew I had gotten the hardest part out of the way,” he said.
“I wasn’t thinking about being a world champion. I just worked hard every day. This sport is a marathon, not a sprint.”

The effort paid off sooner than expected.
By 15, Benavidez was sparring top professionals—including fearsome middleweight king Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin. The experiences hardened him and accelerated his development into a world-class fighter.

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Inspiration Through Honesty: ‘People Need to See It’s Possible’

In an industry filled with bravado, Benavidez’s humility stands out. Even as a 30-0 world champion, he remains candid about his struggles, using them to motivate others facing weight or confidence battles.

“I get a lot of messages from people saying my story helped them lose weight,” he said.
“People need to see it’s possible. I know what it feels like to think you’ll never get there.”

His openness has made him not only a boxing star, but a figure of genuine inspiration globally.

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Taking on Anthony Yarde: A Dangerous Challenger

Benavidez enters Saturday’s fight as the newly elevated full WBC light-heavyweight champion, having previously fought twice as interim titleholder.

On the opposite side stands Anthony Yarde, the explosive Londoner with 27 wins (24 KOs), now heading into his third shot at a world title.

Yarde has shared the ring with elite champions like Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev, and Benavidez knows he can’t afford complacency.

“I haven’t overlooked Yarde,” Benavidez insisted.
“He works hard. He has real power and a big heart.”

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The Road Ahead: Dmitry Bivol, Beterbiev & Cruiserweight Ambitions

If Benavidez successfully defends his title against Yarde, the path ahead includes some of the biggest names in the sport.

At the top of the list is Dmitry Bivol, the unbeaten light-heavyweight king who holds the division’s major belts.

“I want all the titles—and Bivol has them,” Benavidez said.

Other possibilities include:

• a clash with knockout machine Artur Beterbiev,
• or a move to cruiserweight to challenge former champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.

But the champion remains grounded.

“First things first: take care of Anthony Yarde. Then the sky’s the limit.”