At the present time, Dmitry Bivol (and Artur Beterbiev) are still the strongest boxers in the Light Heavyweight weight class. They have continuously competed in this scale for many years. Meanwhile, David Benavidez has just risen from Super Middleweight to compete.
David Benavidez is a talented fighter. The evidence is that during the time Bivol and Beterbiev were busy with classic matches, Benavidez acquired two championship belts. These are WBA belts (usual) and WBC (temporary) in the Light Heavyweight weight class. With Bivol refusing to fight Benavidez, he also accepted to lose the official WBC belt for the opponent.
The main reason Bivol accepted the loss of belt was because the WBC title now did not seem to be his top goal. Bivol is heading to the third match with Beterbiev later this year. Influence, as well as revenue from this competition, is certainly much greater than a match against Benavidez at the request from the WBC.
In the opposite direction, the Bivol's declaration of the Bivol belt also shows that they want to affirm the organization's position. According to the WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, Bivol's lawyer behaved improperly when he received a request to play with Benavidez. The WBC cannot do it, because they are now considered the most prestigious and prestigious boxing boxing organization.
Another character also plays an important role in Bivol accepting the loss of belt, which is Turki Alalshikhh. Bau Bau of Arab guarantee the third match between Bivol and Beterbiev will take place later this year. The two boxers will have a “final” match, when each person won a previous match.
For Benavidez personally, the WBC belt can be considered as a comforting reward for this boxer. Benavidez has an impressive achievement table with 30 wins (24 no), but the big opponents constantly refused to fight him. Before Bivol, Canelo Alvarez competed Benavidez for many years.