David Benavidez has chosen to stick with the 175-pound weight class in his quest for a shot at the light heavyweight title, which will be contested by Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed on social media that Benavidez’s team has opted to stay in the light heavyweight category where he is the interim titleholder and the mandatory challenger for the winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev bout.
In a recent fight, Benavidez defeated Oleksandr Usyk in a WBC light heavyweight title eliminator, securing the interim title and becoming the leading contender in the division. Upon learning that Canelo Alvarez had chosen to defend his super middleweight title against Edgar Berlanga, Benavidez relinquished his WBC interim super middleweight title, signaling the end of a potential matchup with Canelo.
Even though Benavidez has put aside his aspirations of facing Canelo, he still has a profitable opportunity to take on the winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev fight down the line. With interest from His Excellency Turki Alalashikh and the promise of a lucrative bout, Benavidez could solidify his standing as a top competitor in the light heavyweight class.
While there have been concerns about Benavidez’s recent performance and the challenges he may face in the higher weight division, the prospect of fighting Bivol or Beterbiev is appealing to both sides. Benavidez’s decision to concentrate on the light heavyweight category presents new avenues for his career and his aspirations for future titles.
