Tweet
The fight between David Benavidez and David Morrell was for the WBC 'interim' and WBA 'regular' belts, mirroring the belts each man held in the weight class below. WBA President Gilberto Mendoza is on record as having said he cooperated with WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman in agreeing that the winner would be joint WBC/WBA mandatory for World Light-Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol. These were positive developments for a number of reasons, but primarily because it would lead to an interesting fight for the division.
On top of the above, Benavidez gave an interview where he said he would be comfortable waiting for the trilogy between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev before demanding his shot. After Bivol defeated Beterbiev events seemed to move quite quickly, with the WBC calling their mandatory almost immediately despite the IBF being next in the rotation. Irrespective of this, had Team Benavidez told the WBC he was still prepared to wait Bivol would presumably not have been forced to vacate.
The alleged $8mil offer from Team Benavidez to Bivol appears to be optics as they knew Bivol was committed to his trilogy. Bivol's vacation of the WBC title soon followed with Benavidez elevated to full beltholder. What was the rationale from Team Benavidez here? Below are some possibilities:
On top of the above, Benavidez gave an interview where he said he would be comfortable waiting for the trilogy between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev before demanding his shot. After Bivol defeated Beterbiev events seemed to move quite quickly, with the WBC calling their mandatory almost immediately despite the IBF being next in the rotation. Irrespective of this, had Team Benavidez told the WBC he was still prepared to wait Bivol would presumably not have been forced to vacate.
The alleged $8mil offer from Team Benavidez to Bivol appears to be optics as they knew Bivol was committed to his trilogy. Bivol's vacation of the WBC title soon followed with Benavidez elevated to full beltholder. What was the rationale from Team Benavidez here? Below are some possibilities:
- Without the trilogy even having a date yet, Benavidez didn't wish to wait indefinitely.
- Benavidez' lack of certainty about getting a shot at the winner.
- If the fight happens he can negotiate it as a 'unification' rather than as challenger.
- In the meantime he can leverage his 'world' title against other opponents.
- The WBA have apparently said they will still order the consolidation so his mandatory position is not completely lost (if one trusts the WBA on these issues).
Comment