David Benavidez’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, says they want their WBC-mandated title shot against undisputed champion Dmitry Bivol next, and they won’t agree to a step aside. Bivol has to fight Benavidez, vacate, or be stripped of his WBC title if he stubbornly refuses to face him.
No More Waiting
Understandably, Benavidez isn’t interested in being put off and made to wait for Bivol to fight a trilogy match against Artur Beterbiev. Benavidez was continually swerved as the WBC mandatory for Canelo Alvarez’s belts at 168 and never got a world title shot. Naturally, he doesn’t want the same thing to happen to him at 175.
Benavidez doesn’t want to be given the runaround by Bivol and his promoter. Poor Benavidez could be waiting for years if he lets Bivol have his way, fighting Artur Beterbiev, Callum Smith, and other contenders. That’s the problem with fighters who become undisputed. They want the status of holding all four belts, but they don’t want the headaches involved with defending against the dangerous Megalodon sharks like Benavidez lurking in the waters.
They hold onto the belts as a keepsake, like an old photo. It’s all superficial to validate them in a fake way. Bivol might be one of those types. They want the prestige of being undisputed.
If Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) wants to hold onto that belt to keep his undisputed 175-lb status, he must defend against ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) next. The World Boxing Council already ordered Bivol vs. Benavidez to begin negotiations with a deadline of April 8th before a purse bid.
There’s been a lot of talk about Bivol and Artur Beterbiev’s desire for a trilogy match, but that will not happen with all four belts. The fight can happen next without the WBC title unless Bivol wants to face Benavidez first.
Fight or Strip
“This is the only fight that we like. There’s no other fight,” said Sampson Lewkowicz to Boxingscene about David Benavidez wanting his mandated title shot against WBC belt-holder Dmitry Bivol next.
“Now everybody is talking about Callum Smith. It could happen only for the WBC full title. The loyalty for us is [with] the WBC at this point. We don’t need the money, and we do not kiss any ring.”
Lewkowcicz says there’s already been an attempt to get Benavidez to step aside, but they’re not doing it. They want the world title shot or the WBC belt vacated so they can fight for it against the highest available contender.
Last Updated on 03/20/2025
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