David Benavidez Told to Pick a Lane as WBA Eyes 175lb Title Strip

David Benavidez has one week's worth of goodwill left before the WBA forces his hand. The unbeaten 32-0 (26 KO) two-weight champion has been asked to formally confirm which division he plans to campaign in, a polite bit of paperwork that almost certainly ends with him losing his WBA Regular light-heavyweight belt.

The reason is simple math. Benavidez can't sit on titles in two weight classes forever, and after halting Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez in six rounds to grab the WBA Super and WBO cruiserweight straps this year, the 200lb picture is where his focus now sits. A three-belt unification is already penciled in for December.

The 175lb Cleanout

Benavidez's run through light-heavyweight was brutal and quick. He debuted at 175 in 2024 by beating Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC interim title, added the WBA Regular belt against David Morrell, got bumped to full WBC champion, then defended both against Anthony Yarde. That last one ended in a seventh-round stoppage — Yarde, ranked #3 and carrying a 27-4 (24 KO) record, couldn't hold him off.

Now the word is that Benavidez has scrapped any plans to drop back down. If cruiserweight becomes permanent, the WBC 175lb throne opens up, and two British contenders could end up fighting for it. The WBA, meanwhile, is being more procedural about the whole thing — its Championship Committee wants Benavidez to say, in writing, where he's staying.

Who Benefits

The obvious winner is Albert Ramirez. The Venezuelan holds the WBA interim light-heavyweight title and sits at #9 with a spotless 23-0 (19 KO) ledger, his most recent win a split decision over Lerrone Richards. If the WBA decides to fold its interim belt into a full Regular title, Ramirez slides straight into the vacancy Benavidez leaves behind.

It's the kind of admin move that rarely makes headlines but reshapes a division overnight. Benavidez gets to chase legacy fights at 200lb without the clutter of belts he no longer intends to defend. And a whole tier of light-heavyweights suddenly has room to breathe. Expect the confirmation to arrive soon — and expect Ramirez's team to be watching the fax machine.