Dmitry Bivol has relinquished his WBC light heavyweight title by refusing to undertake a mandatory defense against challenger David Benavides. This decision automatically elevates Benavides to the status of champion under the WBC.
Mauricio Suleiman, the president of the WBC, announced on social media platform X that he received formal notification from Dmitry Bivol`s lawyer, Patrick English, regarding Bivol`s decision to vacate the title. Suleiman expressed that the reasons provided were unconvincing. He stated, “I just received a cold and impersonal notice from Dmitry Bivol`s lawyer… with arguments so ridiculous I`d rather not even discuss them, informing the WBC that Dmitry Bivol has decided to relinquish his WBC world flyweight title. We wish Bivol success and hereby confirm that David Benavides is the new WBC world heavyweight champion.”
It is worth recalling that Dmitry Bivol achieved the status of absolute champion in February, when he won against Artur Beterbiev in their rematch.
