Why did Benavidez lose his belt?

David Benavidez, who goes by the monikers "El Bandera Roja" and "The Mexican Monster," is an American professional boxer born on December 17, 1996, in Phoenix, Arizona. Benavidez began boxing at the age of three, training alongside his brother under the guidance of their father. Despite struggling with his weight during his youth, reaching up to 250 pounds at one point, he overcame these challenges to pursue a career in boxing. Benavidez made his professional debut at 16 in August 2013 in Rocky Point, Mexico, securing a first-round knockout victory. He continued to build an unbeaten record, and on September 8, 2017, at just 20 years old, he defeated Ronald Gavril to win the vacant WBC super middleweight title, becoming the youngest super middleweight champion in history.

As of January 2025, Benavidez has maintained an undefeated record of 29-0-0, with notable victories over opponents such as David Lemieux, Caleb Plant, and Demetrius Andrade. He currently holds the WBC interim light heavyweight title, having defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Benavidez’s next fight is scheduled against David Morell Jr. on February 1, 2025.

David Benavidez Suspension

David Benavidez has been stripped of the WBC super middleweight title twice due to issues outside the ring. In September 2018, he tested positive for cocaine during a random drug test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA). This violation led to a suspension and the loss of his title.

In August 2020, ahead of a scheduled defense against Roamer Alexis Angulo, Benavidez weighed in at 170.8 pounds, nearly three pounds over the 168-pound super middleweight limit. As a result, he was stripped of his title for failing to make weight.

How many times has David Benavidez defended the WBC belt?

David Benavidez has only defended the WBC super middleweight title once in his professional career. This defense was in a rematch against Ronald Gavril in February 2018, where Benavidez secured a unanimous decision victory.