WBC Super-middleweight status
David Benavidez (22-0, 19KOs) has lost his WBC super middleweight championship on the scale.
'Red FLag' Benavidez, from Phoenix, successfully reported the 30-14 and seven-day check-weight, but unfortunately could not lose the last three pounds.
The unbeaten American faces Alexis Angulo on a Premier Boxing Champions Event on Saturday, August 15, broadcast live on SHOWTIME.
The World Boxing Council said, "We regret the so many complications that this pandemic has brought to so many all over the world and empathize with our now former champion David Benavidez. The fight will go on tomorrow night. If Benavidez wins then the title will become vacant and if Angulo wins he will be crowned as WBC champion of the world."
It's the second time the 23-year-old Arizonian has been stripped of the belt.
In the 168lbs division, the closest contenders from Britain are John Ryder, positioned at seventh place, and Rocky Fielding in ninth. Avni Yildirim is no.1. Islington's Ryder is also ranked highly with the World Boxing Association at no.6.
WBA World champion Callum Smith had been calling for a unification fight with Benavidez for some time. The Liverpudlian World Boxing Super Series winner also holds the WBC Diamond belt. In his last fight, he was pushed all the way by southpaw Ryder and was fortunate to get the decision on the cards against the 32-year-old 'Gorrilla', who many spectators believed won the fight.
WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders, who had been on track to face Canelo in his next fight, could well be interested in putting his name in the hat for the green and gold belt, especially with former victim David Lemieux ranked at no.3 with the WBC. Anthony Dirrell and Daniel Jacobs are placed at three or four, respectively, and Saunders has been previously linked to each of those fighters.
HÖRFA are proud sponsors of British Boxing News