Dmitry Bivol has given up his WBC light heavyweight title. The Russian boxer made this decision on April 7, 2025, just one day before purse bids were set to happen for a fight with David Benavidez.
Bivol had become the undisputed champion at 175lbs on February 22, 2025. He beat Artur Beterbiev in a rematch, getting even for a loss he'd had before. But things got complicated when the WBC named David Benavidez as the mandatory challenger for Bivol's title.
Benavidez, known as 'The Monster', had been the WBC 'Interim' world champion since June 2024. Bivol's team says they were "forced" to give up the title because of this decision.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman shared the news on his personal Twitter page. He wrote:
"I have just received a cold and impersonal notification from Dmitry Bivol lawyer, Patrick English, with arguments that are so ridiculous that I rather not discuss informing the WBC that Dmitry Bivol has decided to relinquish his WBC light heavyweight championship. We wish Bivol success and hereby confirm David Benavidez as WBC world light heavyweight champion"
Pat English, Bivol's attorney, sent a letter to Sulaiman about Bivol giving up the title. Dan Rafael tweeted about this letter, but didn't share what it said.
With Bivol out of the picture, Benavidez has moved up from 'Interim' champion to full WBC world light heavyweight champion.
Boxing fans might see Bivol and Beterbiev fight for a third time next. The winner of that fight could end up facing the new WBC champion, Benavidez, down the line.
