David Benavidez has determined to remain at 175 to pursue a title shot in opposition to the winner of the Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev gentle heavyweight conflict.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman posted on X tonight, revealing that Benavidez’s promoter has notified him that he’ll stay at gentle heavyweight, the place he holds the interim 175-lb title and is necessary for the Bivol-Beterbiev winner.
Final month, on June fifteenth, Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) defeated Oleksandr Usyk by a twelve-round unanimous choice in a WBC gentle heavyweight title eliminator to seize the interim title and turn into necessary.
Canelo’s Determination Seals Benavidez’s Destiny
Benavidez, 27, vacated his WBC interim tremendous middleweight title, which was possible the results of immediately’s information of undisputed 168-lb champion Canelo Alvarez finalizing a deal to defend in opposition to WBA necessary Edgar Berlanga on September 14th on the T-Cell Area in Las Vegas.
Canelo’s choice to face Berlanga quite than Benavidez made it clear that he had no plans to face him. Terence Crawford is already being pegged as Canelo’s opponent within the first half of subsequent yr, supplied Alvarez is victorious in opposition to Berlanga on September 14th. Crawford will likely be transferring up two divisions to problem Canelo for his titles.
Though Benavidez has given up on his Canelo dream as a result of there are not any alternatives for him, he can nonetheless do fairly properly financially preventing the winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev undisputed conflict in 2025. His Excellency Turki Alalashikh is excited by Benavidez preventing the winner of that combat, and it’s one which he gained’t have a tough time getting.
Beterbiev and Bivol could be open to preventing Benavidez, as that’s a well-paying combat for them. The 175-lb division has no massive names, and Benavidez will instantly be the preferred fighter that both of those two champions may face.
Benavidez didn’t look nice in his combat in opposition to Gvozdyk final month. He confirmed little or no energy and pale after six rounds. After the combat, Benavidez blamed his energy absence readily available accidents, however some boxing followers are skeptical as a result of none of his photographs confirmed a lot pop.
What’s extra worrisome is that Benavidez gassed out after six rounds. He couldn’t blame that on an harm. The additional weight he’ll carry as a light-weight heavyweight may gradual him down, making him weak.
The WBC has simply obtained a letter from @SampsonBoxing unique promoter of @Benavidez300 confirming that David Benavidez will proceed his profession as Lightheavyweight . He’s confirmed as WBC 175 interim champion and is the necessary contender for the winner Beterbiev vs Bivol
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) July 23, 2024
