David Benavidez is no longer listed as the WBA Regular light heavyweight champion, leaving him with one fewer reason to return to 175 pounds as his future takes shape at cruiserweight.
His WBC light heavyweight title remains listed, so the move does not close the door on a return. It does, however, reinforce the impression that pursuing championships at 200 pounds has taken priority over chasing Dmitry Bivol.
The WBA’s September 30 rankings list Bivol as Super champion and Albert Ramirez as interim champion at light heavyweight. Benavidez remains the organization’s Super cruiserweight champion alongside his WBO title.
The change follows the WBA’s request for Benavidez to clarify his plans:
“The WBA Championship Committee has requested David Benavidez to clarify which title he intends to continue campaigning for,” the organization announced last month.
Benavidez stopped Gilberto Ramirez in six rounds in May to capture the WBA and WBO cruiserweight belts. Boxing News reports that he intends to remain in the division, with a Michal Cieslak unification being lined up and Jai Opetaia a potential opponent afterward.
That route gives Benavidez a chance to build on a successful debut at the heavier weight. Returning to light heavyweight would mean shedding the additional pounds without any guarantee that a Bivol fight would follow. Keeping a belt at 175 preserves an option, but it cannot produce the opponent he wants by itself.
For the light heavyweight contenders, the WBA change removes one obstacle. Ramirez could benefit, although the latest rankings still identify him as interim champion. His promoter, Camille Estephan, told Boxing News he expects an elevation; that remains an expectation rather than a confirmed appointment.
The next question concerns Benavidez’s WBC belt. If his next two fights take place at cruiserweight, retaining that championship becomes harder to justify to fighters waiting at 175.