Dmitry Bivol Gives Up WBC Title With Pressure Of David Benavidez Fight Mounting

Undisputed champion Dmitry Bivol rejects $8 million offer to defend his WBC belt against undefeated David Benavidez!

Dmitry Bivol Gives Up WBC Title With Pressure Of David Benavidez Fight Mounting

Boxing’s light heavyweight division has been a battlefield of elite talent in recent years. Three names have dominated conversations among boxing fans worldwide. Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, and David Benavidez each bring something special to the ring. Bivol dazzles with technical mastery and footwork. Beterbiev terrifies opponents with crushing power. Benavidez combines relentless pressure with youthful stamina. Their overlapping stories have created one of boxing’s most compelling triangular dramas.

Bivol and Beterbiev have already written two chapters of their rivalry with split decisions. Their October clash saw Beterbiev escape with a majority decision victory. Bivol evened the score in February with an equally close win. These fights showcased everything great about boxing. Two masters of their craft pushed each other to the limit. Now, the third fighter wants his shine.

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Dmitry Bivol Rejects $8 Million Benavidez Fight

The boxing world was stunned this week when WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman revealed Bivol’s decision. The Russian undisputed champion reportedly turned down an $8 million offer to defend against mandatory challenger David Benavidez. Instead, Bivol chose to vacate his WBC title entirely. The organization quickly elevated Benavidez from interim champion to full champion status.

Bivol rejected an 8 million dollars offer from Benavidez: WBC https://t.co/96cAJoc81i
— Salvador Rodriguez (@ChavaESPN) April 8, 2025

Critics pounced on Bivol’s decision as evidence of ducking a dangerous opponent. They point to Benavidez’s impressive 30-0 record with 24 knockouts as justification. The 28-year-old American has long sought big-name opponents. Fans remember his frustrated pursuit of Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight. Many see history repeating itself at light heavyweight. Benavidez brings youth, size, and relentless pressure, qualities that might trouble Bivol’s more measured boxing style. The $8 million purse would have been substantial, making the rejection even more puzzling to some observers.

Another Side Of The ‘Ducking’ Allegations

There is another side to this story that deserves equal consideration. Dmitry Bivol isn’t avoiding elite competition, he is choosing one great fighter over another. The Russian champion has made it clear he intends to pursue a trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev. Their epic two-fight series stands unresolved with one win apiece. Boxing historically celebrates great trilogies like Ali-Frazier. Bivol-Beterbiev has earned its place among these storied rivalries.

Financial considerations also likely played a role in Bivol’s decision. Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshiekh has invested heavily in this rivalry. He was reportedly paid $10 million for the Beterbiev fight. The potential payday for a definitive third bout could exceed the $8 million Benavidez fight. The PPV numbers for their February rematch, 55,000 domestic buys and 340,000 worldwide weren’t spectacular. However, this speaks more to boxing’s current market challenges than the quality of their competition. Both fighters have demonstrated exceptional skill and courage in their meetings.

Turki Alalshikh has made it clear that the Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev trilogy fight will happen next, if both men want it.

[@CharIieParsons] pic.twitter.com/dOyvv21gHt
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) February 23, 2025

Bivol-Beterbiev 3 promises another tactical masterclass between two technicians at the height of their powers. Benavidez now holds a world title and positions himself for major fights. Perhaps after the trilogy concludes, Bivol and Benavidez will finally meet in a fresh chapter of light heavyweight excellence.

(Image Credit: bivol_d – X)

Artur Beterbiev

David Benavidez

Dmitry Bivol

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!