David Benavidez signs on to fight for interim light heavyweight title, could still face Canelo Alvarez in 2024
CBSN
The WBC interim super middleweight champion could become a mandatory challenger for another undisputed crown
David Benavidez is done waiting around at supper middleweight for a shot at undisputed champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced Thursday night that Benavidez, the WBC interim super middleweight champion, will move up in weight to fight former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the interim title at light heavyweight.
Benavidez's promoter confirmed the news to boxing reporter Dan Rafael as well, noting that the bout agreements were signed for a fight in "early June" and that this move up does not prevent Benavidez from returning to 168 pounds to potentially challenge Alvarez later this year.
Benavidez has twice held the WBC super middleweight title, losing it once for a failed drug test for cocaine and again after missing weight. Alvarez eventually captured all four world titles at 168 pounds without having to step in the ring with Benavidez, the consensus top super middleweight other than Alvarez.
