An unforeseen injury to Anthony Dirrell has forced the WBC to order a third different fight for its vacant WBC super middleweight title.
Dirrell was supposed to fight David Benavidez on September 8 for the vacant WBC title, but the original fight was supposed to be Dirrell vs. Callum Smith. Smith decided to fight in the World Boxing Super Series' super middleweight where he will fight for the WBC Diamond title.
Benavidez will now fight NABF super middleweight champion Ronald Gavril on September 8, as announced by the governing body in a statement, which can be seen below.
The WBC has been informed of a regrettable injury by Anthony Dirrell who is scheduled to fight for the WBC super middleweight championship on September 8 against David Benavidez.
Tom Brown Promotions has the September 8 commitment for a long time and has requested the WBC to accept David Benavidez vs Ronald Gavril to fight on such date for the championship. Ronald Gavril is the NABF champion and is the highest available contender.
Considering that Callum Smith, Avni Yildirim and Chris Eubank Jr. are all competing in the WBC Diamond Tournament with the World Boxing Super Series with the winner of such tournament becoming mandatory to the WBC championship.
The WBC hereby confirms official sanctioning of the bout between David Benavidez and Ronald Gavril for the WBC super middleweight championship.
Benavidez, Fightful Boxing Newsletter's 2017 Prospect of the Mid-Year, had won both of his fights in 2017 and will compete for his first title. Gavril sports an 18-1 pro record and has won his last seven bouts, four of which were via knockout.
The title was previously held by Badou Jack, but after his last fight against James DeGale ended in a draw, Jack decided to vacate the belt so that he could pursue a world title at the light heavyweight division.
