David Benavidez successfully debuted in his new weight class on June 15, when he faced Oleksandr Gvozdyk at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The light heavyweight bout served as the co-feature to Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin headlining PBC PPV on Prime Video.
Two-time super middleweight champion Benavidez of Phoenix and former light heavyweight champion Gvozdyk of Ukraine battled it out for the interim WBC 175-pound title. The scheduled for 12 rounds championship bout went the full distance. In the end, the scores were 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109, all in favor of the representative of the country-host.
With the victor by unanimous decision, David Benavidez earned his first belt at 175 lbs, improved to 29-0, 24 KOs and remained undefeated. The 27-year-old said that in the lead up to the fight, he sustained a cut and a hand injury.
“I went up in weight, won every single round and dominated a former world champion and an Olympian as well,” Benavidez said post-fight. “I had him hurt a couple of times.”
“I wasn’t throwing a lot of combinations because I reinjured 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.”
“I’m looking forward to what’s next in the division.”
Oleksandr Gvozdyk dropped to 20-2, 16 KOs. The Oxnard, California-based 37-year-old got his three-fight winning streak snapped.
“I obviously wish we got a different decision tonight,” Gvozdyk said. “I wish I had done a little more and been more active in the early rounds of the fight.”
“I think the scores were pretty accurate. It was a good fight, a close fight. He was better in the first half of the fight, but I think I started doing better in the second half. I’d love a rematch with him.”
Get Davis vs Martin full fight card results.