WBC orders Benavidez to fight Anthony Dirrell News

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WBC orders Benavidez to fight Anthony Dirrell

By Daily Sports on July 13, 2017

David Benavidez will soon have the opportunity to become the youngest world titleholder in super middleweight division history.

Benavidez, 20, has been ordered to face former world titleholder Anthony Dirrell for a vacant 168-pound title, and the sides are in talks with the fight likely to take place this fall, assuming they make a deal, Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz told ESPN.

"The fight will be in late October or the beginning of November. I have no doubt he will be the youngest super middleweight champion in history," Lewkowicz said, noting that despite rumors to the contrary, the fight will not take place on the undercard of the mandatory rematch between featherweight world titleholder Leo Santa Cruz and secondary titlist Abner Mares that is in the works for Oct. 7 in Los Angeles.

If Lewkowicz and TGB Promotions CEO Tom Brown, serving as Dirrell's promoter for the bout, do not make a deal, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told ESPN that a purse bid will be scheduled to take place on July 28. Since both fighters are with adviser Al Haymon, it is expected that Lewkowicz and Brown will reach an agreement.

The title shot for Benavidez (18-0, 17 KOs), of ‎Phoenix, will come a little sooner than expected because Dirrell was initially supposed to face England's Callum Smith for the vacant belt.

•Photo shows David Benavidez.

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 13, 2017