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David Benavidez

David Benavidez is the current WBA Super and WBO cruiserweight world champion. Since 2017 Benavidez has held world titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight. Benavidez's highest place in The Ring's annual pound for pound ratings was No. 8, in 2025. Benavidez first became a world champion aged 20 after winning the WBC super middleweight world title by beating Ronald Gavril.

World title bouts
7
Record in world title bouts (won–lost)
7–0
World titles held
5
Longest world title reign (WBA Regular light heavyweight, 2025–2026)
1 year, 8 months

World title reigns and bouts

Jan 2017 – Jan 2027

CruiserweightWBA Super
WBC
WBO
Light HeavyweightWBA Regular
WBC
Super MiddleweightWBC
2017age 202018age 212019age 222020age 232021age 242022age 252023age 262024age 272025age 282026age 292027age 30
20182020202220242026

WonLostDrawn or no contestScheduled

Timeline of world title events

  1. 2026

  2. David Benavidez v Michal Cieslak

    Cruiserweight · WBC and WBO Scheduled

  3. David Benavidez vacates the WBC light heavyweight world title

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  4. David Benavidez’s reign as the WBA Regular light heavyweight world champion ends

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Regular

  5. David Benavidez beats Gilberto Ramirez via knockout 6/12

    Cruiserweight · WBA Super and WBO

  6. 2025

  7. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 2 at light heavyweight in its annual ratings

    The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 8 pound for pound in its annual ratings

  8. David Benavidez beats Anthony Yarde via technical knockout 7/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Regular and WBC

  9. David Benavidez becomes WBC light heavyweight champion

    Light Heavyweight · WBC

  10. David Benavidez beats David Morrell via unanimous decision 12/12

    Light Heavyweight · WBA Regular

  11. 2024

  12. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 2 at light heavyweight in its annual ratings

  13. 2023

  14. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 1 at super middleweight in its annual ratings

  15. 2022

  16. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 1 at super middleweight in its annual ratings

  17. 2021

  18. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 1 at super middleweight in its annual ratings

  19. 2020

  20. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 1 at super middleweight in its annual ratings

  21. David Benavidez beats Roamer Alexis Angulo via corner retirement 10/12

    Super Middleweight · WBC

  22. David Benavidez’s reign as the WBC super middleweight world champion ends

    Super Middleweight · WBC

  23. 2019

  24. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 1 at super middleweight in its annual ratings

  25. David Benavidez beats Anthony Dirrell via knockout 9/12

    Super Middleweight · WBC

  26. 2018

  27. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 2 at super middleweight in its annual ratings

  28. David Benavidez’s reign as the WBC super middleweight world champion ends

    Super Middleweight · WBC

  29. David Benavidez beats Ronald Gavril via unanimous decision 12/12

    Super Middleweight · WBC

  30. 2017

  31. The Ring magazine rates David Benavidez No. 9 at super middleweight in its annual ratings

  32. David Benavidez beats Ronald Gavril via split decision 12/12

    Super Middleweight · WBC