David Benavidez believes one of the sport’s flagship champions is actively avoiding him, claiming there have been “multiple opportunities” to make the fight happen.

The WBC light-heavyweight champion is widely considered to be a top 10 pound-for-pound operator, capable of significantly enhancing his legacy over the next few years.

His immediate opportunity to do so will arrive on May 2, when Benavidez bids to become a three-division world champion against WBO and WBA cruiserweight titlist Gilberto Ramirez.

Irrespective of the result this weekend, the 29-year-old has said he will move back down to 175lbs and pursue an undisputed showdown with Dmitry Bivol.

The unified light-heavyweight champion is gearing up to defend his titles against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, headlining a card at the UMMC Arena, Russia, on May 30.

This represents his first outing since defeating Artur Beterbiev in their immediate rematch, which saw Bivol exact his revenge with a majority decision victory in February 2025.

Should he wish to become a two-time undisputed king, then the 35-year-old must ultimately face Benavidez, who insists he got the better of their sparring session around eight years ago.

Back then, the pair had already shared numerous rounds, yet Benavidez has told Ariel Helwani that Bivol came away from their final spar with far less confidence.

“They can say whatever they want… He’s felt my power up close and personal. I felt his power up close and personal, too, but I got the better of that. I got the better of that last sparring session we had.

“I don’t let that get to my head because I know I have to come extremely prepared for him, but I feel like that [sparring session] kind of got stuck in his head.

“We’ve had multiple opportunities to make this fight happen, and it hasn’t happened, so I think that speaks volumes on its own.”

Benavidez was elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion after Bivol vacated the belt last year, but this was largely because the Russian needed to undergo back surgery.

Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field Olympian of all time, wants one more crack at adding more medals to her illustrious career.

The 40-year-old told Time she will be making a comeback in hopes of running in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, which will be hosted in her home city.  

“So many of us have been told not to do the big, bold thing,” Felix said to the outlet about her comeback. “You know, at this age, I should probably be staying home and taking care of my kids, doing all that. And just, why not? Let’s flip it on its head. Let’s go after the thing. Let’s be vulnerable.”

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Allyson Felix, multiple sprint world champion, celebrates after the 4×400 meter mixed relay at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on July 16, 2022. The U.S. relay team won bronze in Felix’s final race. (Michael Kappeler/DPA)

Felix will be 42 when the Olympics begin in L.A., but the winner of 11 Olympic medals, including seven golds, across five different Games has seen others past 40 years old do what many consider impossible. Tom Brady, LeBron James and Lindsey Vonn were mentioned by Felix during the interview.

She wants to push past the age barrier, believing she can get one last shot at Olympic glory.

US OLYMPIAN ALYSA LIU WAS ONCE TARGETED BY CHINESE SPIES – HERE’S WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT

If Felix were to make the Olympic team at 42, she would be the first American sprinter to ever reach the Games in their 40s. And considering her specialty is sprinting, it will be quite the feat with the talent pool she’d be going up against.

Sha’Carri Richardson, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Gabby Thomas and more will be vying for spots on the Olympic team come 2028. But that’s clearly not going to deter Felix, who many of these women likely looked up to since she burst onto the Olympic scene in Athens in 2004.

Allyson Felix, multiple sprint world champion, celebrates after the 4×400 meter mixed relay at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on July 16, 2022. The U.S. relay team won bronze in Felix’s final race. (Michael Kappeler/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

Felix won silver that year in the 200-meter sprint. Then, during the 2008 Games in Beijing, she won gold with the 4×400-meter relay team, while taking home silver in the 200-meter sprint.

Felix reached the height of her running powers during the London Games, notching gold in the 200-meter, the 4×100-meter relay and 4×400-meter relay. She was a part of the team in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo before announcing her retirement following the 2022 track season.

Since then, Felix was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2025, while serving as part of the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Commission as well as the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Board of Directors.

So, while Felix is involved heavily in the Games for the U.S., she wants to be back on the track.

Allyson Felix speaks onstage during the 2025 Social Impact Summit by The Hollywood Reporter and Social Impact Fund on July 24, 2025, at the DGA in Los Angeles, Calif. (Monica Schipper/The Hollywood Reporter)

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Felix did return to competitive running last year, but she said she will seriously begin training for an Olympic comeback in October.

If Felix doesn’t make the team in the end, she said she will be present at the 2028 LA Games with her children to cheer on those representing the Stars and Stripes.  

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WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is among the most popular stars on the roster. She reunited with a fellow babyface last week.

The Eradicator spent a lot of time with Damian Priest in The Judgment Day. They were both ousted from the faction at WWE SummerSlam 2024. The two parted ways a couple of months later to focus on their respective singles careers.

Despite The Archer of Infamy’s move to SmackDown in January 2025, The Terror Twins crossed paths on several occasions in the past 12 months. After winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match earlier this year, Ripley also joined the blue brand to feud with the then WWE Women’s Champion, Jade Cargill.

Rhea Ripley recently reunited with Damian Priest backstage. Earlier today, R-Truth posted a picture featuring himself, Priest, and Rhea posing with their respective title belts, recreating an iconic movement from two years ago.

“🙌🏾 Groundhog Day 👀 @RheaRipley_WWE @ArcherOfInfamy,” Truth wrote.

You can check out the tweet below:

While Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to win the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42, Damian Priest and R-Truth scored a surprising win over The MFTs’ Tama Tonga and JC Mateo on the March 20 edition of Monday Night RAW to become the new WWE Tag Team Champions.

Popular WWE star hinted at potential match against Rhea Ripley

Former WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was shockingly left off the WrestleMania 42 card. She addressed her absence from the PLE in a recent interview with Joey Karni.

The Buff Barbie noted that the surprising WrestleMania absence could set her up for bigger opportunities at SummerSlam, competing for the WWE Women’s Championship or main eventing WrestleMania 43.

“I fully believe everything happens for a reason. Me not being on this year’s Mania is setting me up for something bigger. Whether that’s SummerSlam in Minnesota this year and fighting for the WWE Women’s Championship or main eventing next year’s WrestleMania, I fully believe everything happens for a reason,” Stratton added.

On the latest edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton defeated Giulia to become the new WWE Women’s United States Champion. After her win, it is likely that The Buff Barbie will cross paths with The Nightmare anytime soon.