From one top prospect to another, the WBC has confirmed that with Callum Smith electing instead to fight in the upcoming World Boxing Super Series tournament, Anthony Dirrell’s replacement opponent in his upcoming vacant super middleweight title bout will be twenty year old David Benavidez. I have no complaints about this great potential matchup.
This is a classic from out of the frying pan, into the fire type situation for Anthony Dirrell (30-1-1, 24 KOs). Instead of having to go through a really good prospect in Callum Smith, Dirrell now has to go through a great prospect in twenty year old David Benavidez (18-0, 17 KOs) if he wants to reclaim his former belt.
Anthony Dirrell, a cancer survivor and brother of Andre Dirrell, originally won this very same belt in a 2014 second try against Sakio Bika after their first fight ended in a draw. In April of 2015, Badou Jack took the title in Dirrell’s first defense. Since that night, Anthony has taken three softer fights while biding his time for another title shot. Badou Jack elected to move up to light heavyweight, vacating this title and giving Dirrell the opportunity he has been waiting for in the process.
Originally, the vacant title fight was supposed to be contested between Dirrell and big time British prospect Callum Smith. The fight was signed and delivered for September 9th in Los Angeles, but the Dirrell camp was supposedly pushing hard for the fight to be moved to their hometown of Flint, Michigan instead. Unhappy with team Dirrell attempting to change an already signed deal, Callum Smith withdrew to join the World Boxing Super Series.
Young David Benavidez is coming off an extremely impressive thrashing of longtime super middleweight contender Rogelio “Porky” Medina. He is ranked fourth by the WBC and is getting this fight because third ranked Turkish prospect Avni Yildirim is also in the World Boxing Super Series with second ranked Callum Smith. Should Benavidez prevail in this bout, he will become the youngest super middleweight world titleholder in the history of the division.
With both fighters under the PBC banner, this should be a very easy fight to make should both sides want it to happen. As of now the rumor is the fight would keep the September 9th date, but it is unclear whether it would remain in Los Angeles or move to Flint as desired by Dirrell’s team . Regardless of date and location, Anthony Dirrell will be without his uncle and trainer Leon Lawson Jr in his corner as Lawson has been suspended indefinitely by the WBC following his post fight antics after Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui’s recent fight.
