By Sean Jones – 07/23/2024 – Comment
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman reports that David Benavidez's promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, has informed him that his fighter has chosen to stay at 175 and retain his interim and mandatory WBC title.
Frustration With No Title Shot at 168 lbs
Benavidez will vacate his interim WBC 168-lb title, which was irrelevant because the World Boxing Council had not indicated a fight between him and WBC champion Canelo Alvarez.
The undefeated Benavidez is set to face the winner of the October 12 fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. The two will meet in a undisputed 175-lb bout at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Benavidez's decision to vacate his interim and mandatory WBC at 168 comes after today's news that super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez will next defend against Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in a doubleheader at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Berlanga recently became the WBA 168-lb title holder earlier this year on February 24, defeating Padraig McCrory. Benavidez has already been waiting for a title shot as Canelo's WBC title for two years since he defeated David Lemieux on May 21, 2022.
With Terence Crawford's name mentioned repeatedly as a potential opponent for Canelo's fight in the first quarter of 2025, it was clear that Benavidez would be outclassed again and again forever.
Financial rewards In 175
Benavidez could make a lot of money fighting the winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev in 2025. The only thing that is uncertain is whether the two champions will choose to fight in a rematch, which could happen for the second time in the first half of next year.
The WBC recently received a letter from @SampsonBoxing special promoter of @Benavidez300 confirming that David Benavidez will continue his Lightheavyweight career. He is confirmed as the WBC 175 interim champion and is the mandatory opponent for the winner of Beterbiev vs Bivol.
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) July 23, 2024
Last updated on 07/23/2024
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