David Benadvidez W12 Oleksandr Gvozdyk... Tired of waiting around for a shot at world super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez moved up to the light heavyweight division to battle a former WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the vacant WBC interim title. After twelve rounds, Benavidez, 174.2 lbs., a former two-time WBC champion at super middleweight, earned a unanimous decision victory with tallies of 119-109, 117-111, and 116-112. Benavidez, from Arizona, started fast, closing the gap and targeting Gvozdyk’s body with powerful hooks. Gvozdyk, 174.2 lbs., a Ukrainian now based out of Oxnard, California, was game throughout, looking to land quick combinations and move, but he did not possess the firepower to hurt his adversary. After such a dominant start, the pace slowed over the second half, as Benavidez looked to conserve energy. With the win, Benavidez improved to 29-0 (24 KOs).

“I obviously wish we got a different decision. I wish I had done a little more and been more active in the early rounds of the fight,” lamented Gvozdyk, now 20-2 (16 KOs). “I think the scores were pretty accurate. It was a close fight. He was better in the first half, but I think I started doing better in the second half. I'd love a rematch with him."
 
“I went up in weight, won every single round and dominated a former world champion and an Olympian as well,” said Benavidez, satisfied with his performance. “I had him hurt a couple of times. I wasn't throwing a lot of combinations because I re-injured my hand in the third round. I tore my right ligament four weeks before the fight and I hurt my left hand in camp. I'm proud of myself because I also got a cut three weeks ago and I pushed through and gave the fans a good fight.”
 
There are plenty of options for Benavidez, who says he can comfortably make weight at both super middleweight and light heavyweight. Obviously, the most lucrative path for Benavidez is a mega fight for the undisputed super middleweight crown, but King Canelo remains reluctant to accept the challenge.
 
“If I can go down to 168, there are big fights at 168. I want to win another world title, whether it’s against Canelo or whomever,” continued Benavidez. “I want to make my own lane, that’s why I came up to 175. The Canelo fight would be really big. If he really believes he is the best in the world then come beat me and shut me up.
 
On October 12, Artur Beterbiev, holder of the WBC, WBA and WBO 175-pound world titles, and IBF champion Dmitriy Bivol unify the light heavyweight division to crown an undisputed champion.
 
Said Benavidez of a possible showdown for the light heavyweight championship, “It’s not the fight I want, it’s the fight I’ve earned,” referring to winning the interim WBC 175-pound title on Saturday night. “It sends a strong message if I can go down to 168 and dominate that weight class then come back up to 175 to dominate a second weight class."