Ronald Gavril: record, next fight and profile →
BoxingScene.com has been advised that a deal is nearly complete for a Las Vegas doubleheader on February 17th. In the main event, former two division champion Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) will finally make his return to the ring, against another former champion, Brandon Rios (34-3-1, 25 KOs).
On September 8th, super middleweight contender Ronald Gavril (18-2) came within a whisker of capturing a world title when he dropped a split decision to David Benavidez (19-0). One judge had the fight 116-111 for Gavril but was overruled by the other two judges who had the bout 117-111 and 116-111 for Benavidez who became the youngest super middleweight champion in the history of the sport.
Up and coming super middleweight prospect Caleb "Sweet Hands" Plant (16-0) is yearning for a title shot. At the top of the Tennessee native's wish list is newly crowned WBC champion David Benavidez who captured the title in September when he beat Ronald Gavril via split decision. Most observers thought the fight was nip and tuck and some believed that Gavril deserved the nod after he floored Benavidez in the final round.
Newly crowned WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (19-0, 17 KOs) is thrilled to be the youngest champion ever in the division but his victory over Ronald Gavril (18-2, 14 KOs) left a bit of a sour taste in his mouth. The win was a split draw in which some observers felt that Gavril deserved the nod. Benavidez started out strong but Gavril came on at the end and floored Benavidez in the 12th round.
Sampson Lewkowicz, promoter for WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez, says there are ongoing negotiations to have a rematch with Ronald Gavril in January 2018. Last month, Benavidez became boxing’s youngest world champion – and the youngest ever in the super middleweight division – with a split decision victory over Gavril at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Although David Benavidez was dropped by a left hook in the final round (more of a balance shot than a really damaging blow), the 20-year old still became boxing's youngest current titleholder as well as the youngest man ever to win a piece of the super middleweight title by capturing the WBC belt vacated by Badou Jack (who was at ringside) via a split decision that probably should have been unanimous.
At 20 years, 9 months old, David Benavidez became boxing’s youngest world champion – and the youngest ever in the super middleweight division – with a split decision victory over Ronald Gavril on Friday night on an exciting night of 168-pound action on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas - David Benavidez (19-0, 17 KOs) was given the toughest test of his career, in winning a twelve round split decision over Ronald Gavril (18-2, 14 KOs) to capture the vacant WBC super middleweight title. Benavidez, at age 20, become the youngest world champion in boxing. The scores were 116-111 for Benavidez, 116-111 for Gavril, 117-111 for Benavidez.
David Benavidez thought he would get his first title shot sometime within the first half of 2018. Unforeseen circumstances have not only expedited that championship process, but also have placed Benavidez in position to make quite a bit of history Friday night in Las Vegas. If the knockout artist from Phoenix can overcome Romania’s Ronald Gavril in their “ShoBox” main event, the emerging super middleweight will win the vacant WBC super middleweight title and become boxing’s youngest active world champion.
LAS VEGAS – All six super middleweight boxers made weight on Thursday, one day before a stacked tripleheader tomorrow/Friday, Sept. 8 on SHOWTIME BOXING: Special Edition live on SHOWTIME® (10:05 p.m. ET/PT) from the Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.