David Benavidez has announced his move up to the light heavyweight division for a June fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk. The WBC president confirmed that the bout will be for the interim light heavyweight title, positioning the winner for a potential fight against the victor of the upcoming undisputed title match between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Benavidez, ranked as ESPN's No. 2 super middleweight, had a standout year in 2023. The 27-year-old secured impressive victories over Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade, both former champions, sparking interest in a potential showdown with Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion.
Despite Benavidez's desire for a bout with Alvarez, the Mexican star has other plans for his upcoming fight on May 4. As Benavidez awaits a potential future clash with Alvarez, he will face Gvozdyk in the light heavyweight division, a move that has been long-discussed.
Standing at 6-foot-2, Benavidez is known for his exceptional stamina and is on the verge of earning recognition in the pound-for-pound rankings. While a fight with Alvarez remains uncertain, a matchup with either Beterbiev or Bivol would be an enticing alternative for Benavidez.
Gvozdyk, a former light heavyweight champion from Ukraine, claimed the title in 2018 with a 10th-round knockout victory over Adonis Stevenson. After a brief retirement following a defeat to Beterbiev, Gvozdyk returned to the ring in February last year and has since secured three wins against lower-tier opponents.
His most recent victory came in September with a second-round knockout on the undercard of the Alvarez-Jermell Charlo fight. Gvozdyk, who previously sparred with Alvarez during his bout against Bivol in 2022, now finds himself as the obstacle in the path of a potential Benavidez-Alvarez showdown.
