Lewkowicz: Bivol Will Not Fight Benavidez, So He Should Vacate The Title, The Mexican Monster To Fight For Full WBC Title In September

Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz says David Benavidez will fight for the full WBC light heavyweight title in September, possibly against Callum Smith, after the belt is vacated or stripped from current champion Dmitry Bivol.

Surrender!

Lewkowicz stated he wants Bivol to bring the WBC title back and turn it in on Monday because he’s not going to defend it against Benavidez. It won’t be at stake when Bivol faces Artur Beterbiev in their trilogy match.

The WBC has already ordered Bivol to begin negotiating with WBC mandatory Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs), and they have until April 8th to put a deal together before a purse bid. However, Lewkowicz doesn’t see that happening because of the Bivol-Beterbiev trilogy match that is in the planning stages.

There’s no chance that Bivol will take the risk of fighting ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez first because he’d likely lose and would be beltless for the trilogy match against Artur Beterbiev. The fight would still hold interest for fans, but a lot less due to Bivol coming off a loss to Benavidez and holding no titles.

Risk Factor

If Benavidez was an easy mark, Bivol would fight him in a second because it’s a fight that would generate a lot more fan interest worldwide than the tired trilogy match. But Dmitry and his management know that Benavidez is all wrong for them and quickly solves his hit-and-run style. That approach worked on the 40-year-old Artur Beterbiev because he’s old and slow. It wouldn’t be effective against Benavidez, who is young at 28, fast, and cuts off the ring well.

“He will not fight (in a title defense of his interim belt). It will have to be for the full title of the WBC. If Bivol doesn’t take the fight, I recommended that he give up (vacate) the title before April 8th,” said promoter Sampson Lewkowicz to Fight Hub TV about his insisting that WBC light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol defend against his mandatory David Benavidez next or vacate the belt.

It’s unclear why Bivol’s promotional team is dragging it out because Benavidez isn’t going to change his mind about wanting his WBC-mandated title shot. If they think he’s going to change his mind, they’re kidding themselves because it’s not going to happen. Bivol might as well vacate the belt now so they can begin promoting the trilogy with Beterbiev based on it not being for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.

“It’s not going to happen,” said Sampson about a fight between Bivol and Benavidez. “If he (Bivol) doesn’t want the fight on Monday, bring the belt back. The guy that brings the money to the place (the Saudis), doesn’t want it (Bivol-Benavidez),” said Lewkowicz.

It’s not going to be the end of the world for Bivol to go into the trilogy match with Beterbiev with three belts rather than four. The fight will still have value for the fans who like watching the two aging 175-pounders battle in yet another chess match.

U.S. boxing fans are tired of seeing Bivol and Beterbiev fight, as neither of their two fights have been entertaining. By American standards, their fights have been boring. People outside of the country may like tactical fights that look like amateur contests, but U.S. fans don’t enjoy that style.

Smith Next?

“It could be (Callum) Smith (that Benavidez fights next), but there are many others. He will fight in September for the full title,” said Lewkowicz. “If he (Bivol) wants to go to a purse bid, we’re well-prepared with PBC. America wants its own blood to be fighting (for a light heavyweight title), and the blood is David Benavidez. It’s the best fight.

“We already saw twice the same fight (Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev). Under 50,000 people saw that fight (on DAZN PPV in their rematch on February 22nd). It’s a good fight for us (hardcore fans) that love boxing, but for the regular people, they don’t care. I would never got to Saudi because I love that screaming.”