David Benavidez Comes In Heavy, Loses WBC Title

WBC Super Middleweight World Champion David Benavidez is once again the former WBC Super Middleweight World Champion. The 23-year-old was stripped of his title after he missed weight ahead of Saturday’s clash with Alexis Angulo. Benavidez hit the scales at 170lbs with Angulo coming in at 167lbs. The fight will still go ahead, and Angulo can capture the now vacant strap with a win over Benavidez.

“I’m very disappointed. This is obviously my first time missing weight. Just very disappointed to lose the title on the scale, but I’m still going to win the fight tomorrow. I put the blame on myself. It’s just the last three pounds wouldn’t come off. Maybe not having the proper things I needed like no sauna. I was only able to go to the gym an hour a day since I got here. It’s just a couple of different things, but I still have a job to do tomorrow. Maybe later the opportunity will present itself, but I still have a fight to win,” Benavidez said, following today’s weigh-in.

“I didn’t think this all the way through. Coming in I thought I would have access to more, but I didn’t. Maybe this is a message to all the other fighters who have a little bit of trouble with their weight. It’s going to be hard to make the weight if you already have trouble. If you need a couple extra things like the gym or the sauna, you better come into the bubble already on weight. Because it’s very hard.”

All other fights on the card, including the Interim WBA Lightweight title bout between Rolando Romero and Jackson Marine, will go ahead as scheduled.

The broadcast begins Sat. Aug 15 at 9 pm (ET) on SHOWTIME.