David Benavidez has officially become the WBC light heavyweight champion, but the circumstances surrounding his coronation are far from conventional. The hard-hitting ‘Mexican Monster’ was elevated to full champion status after Dmitry Bivol opted to vacate the title rather than fulfil his mandatory defence against Benavidez.
Bivol’s decision to relinquish the WBC belt on April 7, 2025, came just weeks after he had unified the light heavyweight division, and it strongly indicates his intention to pursue a rubber match with long-time rival Artur Beterbiev. This highly anticipated third encounter would settle their intense rivalry, with both men currently holding one win over the other.
The announcement, confirmed by Benavidez on Instagram, put an unexpected yet significant twist on the light-heavyweight landscape:
“Just got the news that Bivol decided to vacate his title instead of fighting me,” Benavidez said.
“Now that makes me the WBC world champion at light heavyweight. This is not the ideal way for me to become a world champion, but nevertheless, I am now the WBC light heavyweight champion of the world, and I intend to put on the best fights.”
The Bivol-Beterbiev Saga: A Rivalry Defined
The backdrop to Benavidez’s title ascension is the captivating two-fight series between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, a rivalry that has reshaped the light heavyweight division. The first clash between the two titans occurred on October 12, 2024, where Artur Beterbiev, known for his devastating knockout power, defeated Dmitry Bivol by majority decision to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion. This victory saw Beterbiev unify all four major world titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) in a tactical chess match that went the full twelve rounds, making Bivol the first fighter to go the distance with Beterbiev.
However, Bivol, the technically brilliant boxer with an orthodox stance and a professional record of 24 wins and 1 loss, wasted no time in seeking redemption. Just over four months later, on February 22, 2025, the two met again in a highly anticipated rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a masterful performance, Bivol avenged his sole professional defeat, winning by majority decision to reclaim the undisputed light heavyweight championship. This victory also handed Artur Beterbiev, who boasts an impressive record of 21 wins and 1 loss with 20 KOs, his first professional defeat. Bivol currently holds the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and Ring Magazine titles, and is scheduled to make his IBF mandatory defense against Michael Eifert on May 30, 2026.
From Super Middleweight Star to Light Heavyweight King
Benavidez, 27, has long been regarded as one of the most avoided men in boxing. A WBC super middleweight champion, he first won the title in 2017 at just 20 years old, becoming the youngest 168-pound world champion in history. However, his initial reign was cut short when he was stripped of the title after testing positive for drug use in September 2018. Despite this setback, Benavidez has never been beaten in the ring, maintaining a perfect professional record of 32 wins with 26 knockouts.
His aggressive style, high-volume punching, and iron chin have made him a nightmare for opponents and a favourite among fans. After failing to secure a mega-fight with undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight, Benavidez moved up to 175 pounds with the goal of conquering a new division. His ascent in the light heavyweight division was swift and dominant. He first captured the interim WBC light heavyweight title by defeating Oleksandr Gvozdyk via unanimous decision on June 15, 2024. Subsequently, he added the WBA (Regular) light heavyweight title to his collection with a unanimous decision victory over David Morrell Jr. on February 1, 2025. These impressive wins solidified his position as the mandatory challenger for the WBC title, ultimately leading to his elevation to full champion.
The “Mexican Monster” Defends and Conquers New Territory
As the newly crowned WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, David Benavidez quickly moved to defend his title. On November 22, 2025, ‘The Mexican Monster’ made his Riyadh Season debut, successfully defending his WBC Light Heavyweight title against dangerous challenger Anthony Yarde, securing a TKO victory in the seventh round. Yarde, with a record of 27-3-0 and 24 knockout wins, had previously challenged Artur Beterbiev in 2023, making him a credible first defense for Benavidez.
Demonstrating his ambition and willingness to challenge himself across weight classes, Benavidez recently made history by moving up to the cruiserweight division. On May 2, 2026, he faced Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for the WBA (Super) and WBO cruiserweight titles. Benavidez delivered a dominant performance, stopping Ramirez by knockout in the sixth round. This victory not only earned him two new world titles but also made him a rare three-division world champion, becoming the first boxer ever to capture world titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight.
The Future of the Light Heavyweight Division
With Bivol holding the WBA, IBF, WBO, and Ring Magazine titles, and Benavidez now the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, the division is ripe for more unification bouts. The potential for a Bivol-Beterbiev trilogy remains a significant talking point in boxing circles, with both fighters and influential figures like Turki Alalshikh expressing interest. However, Benavidez has also made it clear that he intends to put on the best fights and still has his sights set on unifying the light heavyweight division. His first mandatory defense for his WBC Light Heavyweight belt is due against Artur Beterbiev, setting up another potentially explosive encounter.
Benavidez has already proven himself elite at 168 and 175 pounds, and now at 200 pounds. Despite his success at cruiserweight, he has stated his intention to continue campaigning at light heavyweight, aiming to become a long
