David Benavidez obviously wanted to fight Dmitry Bivol next, not Anthony Yarde.

Bivol vacated his WBC light heavyweight title four months ago, however, rather than making a mandated defense against Benavidez, who was the interim champion.

Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) will defend the WBC belt Bivol gave him for the first time November 22, when he’ll battle England’s Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) in the main event of “The Ring IV” at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on DAZN.

Whenever Bivol recovers from back surgery, The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO 175-pound champ probably will fight Russian rival Artur Beterbiev for the third time. Benavidez has an ulterior motive, but the Phoenix, Arizona, native genuinely doesn’t think Bivol-Beterbiev III is necessary.

Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) and Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) split 12-round title bouts October 12 and February 22 in Riyadh, but Benavidez believes the former won both. Beterbiev won their first fight by majority decision and Bivol avenged that defeat by majority decision.

“I don’t even think it should be a trilogy,” Benavidez told The Ring. “It should’ve been over [after] the second one because I thought Bivol won the first. So, if Bivol keeps the same fight, unless Beterbiev does something different with the style, throwing more combinations or whatever, I think it’s gonna be the same thing and the same outcome. I think Bivol comes out winning again.”

Bivol overcame a shaky start and eventually took control of their rematch.

Judges Mike Fitzgerald (116-112) and Deon Dwarte (115-113) scored for Bivol. Jean-Robert Laine scored the rematch a draw, 114-114.

From Benavidez’s viewpoint, Fitzgerald got it right.

“I just noticed Beterbiev is more a one-shot type of guy,” Benavidez said. “He’s not like a combination thrower. He’s not gonna throw three-, four-punch combinations at you that you’re not gonna be able to see.

“When he throws a shot, he has tremendous power — don’t get me wrong. So, Bivol, with him throwing his jab and having such a great jab, he can see that from a mile away. I think that’s what it was with Beterbiev — his punch selection wasn’t enough to bother Bivol.

“Bivol, I think [Beterbiev] hurt him in the middle rounds or he got tired or whatever. But then, Bivol took control pretty easy again. So that’s what I’m saying — if he doesn’t change anything like that, I don’t think he’s gonna do anything different. Bivol’s jab is too good, his ring generalship is too good and I don’t think Beterbiev could do anything to actually shut him down.”