Bivol Vacates WBC Title; Benavidez New Champion

Dmitry Bivol has vacated his WBC light heavyweight title, opting instead for a trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev, rather than facing mandatory challenger David Benavidez. The World Boxing Council (WBC) confirmed Benavidez as the new titleholder, following Bivol's decision to avoid the purse bid for the fight. Bivol's choice is reportedly influenced by the lucrative appeal of the Beterbiev fight and the challenging style matchup Benavidez presents. Bivol remains the WBA, IBF, and WBO champion, and Benavidez's camp is open to a future matchup should Bivol win his trilogy bout. Critics argue that Bivol's retention of the title was untenable given WBC's regulations and Benavidez's deserving status as a challenger. The boxing community has mixed reactions, with some fans expressing fatigue over the repeated Bivol-Beterbiev encounters.