David Benavidez has climbed the mountain at 175 pounds and planted two flags at the top. In a span of 18 months, the former youngest super middleweight champion turned into a two-belt light heavyweight force, beating top names and doing it under bright lights from Las Vegas to Riyadh.

On February 1, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Benavidez defeated David Morrell Jr. by unanimous decision after 12 furious rounds. He kept his Interim WBC light heavyweight title and added the WBA belt. The scorecards read 118-108 and 115-111 twice. It was a high-octane fight, a real Fight of the Year frontrunner, with more than 1,000 punches thrown between the two.

He then traveled to Saudi Arabia for his first defense as WBC light heavyweight champion and stopped Anthony Yarde on November 22, 2025, at ANB Arena in Riyadh. The finish came in Round 7 of a scheduled 12. That win pushed his record to 31-0 with 25 knockouts and made a loud statement to the rest of the division.

The Morrell war at T-Mobile: two belts, one message

Morrell entered as a dangerous southpaw with speed and power. He left with his first loss, falling to 11-1 (9 KOs). Benavidez, 6-foot-2 with a 74.5-inch reach, showed poise under fire and steady pressure. He mixed sharp jabs with body work, then closed strong down the stretch. The scores—118-108, 115-111, 115-111—reflected control without denying the back-and-forth action fans came to see.

This win mattered for more than hardware. It proved Benavidez’s engine carries to 175, and his style punishes even elite movers. Keeping the Interim WBC strap while grabbing the WBA title, he became the man to chase at light heavyweight. As he said afterward, “I just want to be the best of my era. Whoever I need to fight next, I’ll be ready for them. I want to unify all four titles, so if that’s next, then that’s next.”

“He didn’t just move up—he took over 175.”

Crossing 175: the Gvozdyk victory and a new weight class

The climb began on June 15, 2024. In his light heavyweight debut at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Benavidez beat former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk by unanimous decision. The cards—116-112, 117-111, and 119-109—showed how clean the performance was. He won the Interim WBC title that night, proving his power and pressure travel north.

Technically, he stayed compact, kept his feet set, and let the jab guide the pace. At the weigh-in he was 174.2 pounds, a sign he carried his strength well into the new division. From there, the goal was clear: collect belts and dare the best to meet him.

The 168 chapter: the roots of a champion

Before 175, Benavidez became a star at super middleweight. On March 25, 2023, he beat slick rival Caleb Plant by unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with scores of 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113 to retain the Interim WBC super middleweight title. It was a disciplined, punishing performance.

Eight months later, on November 25, 2023, he defended that interim belt again at Michelob ULTRA Arena, forcing Demetrius Andrade’s corner to stop it after Round 6. It was a statement stoppage over an undefeated, tricky veteran.

The foundation goes back even further. On September 8, 2017, at just 20 years old, he edged Ronald Gavril by split decision to become the youngest WBC super middleweight champion. He got off the floor in that fight and won the rematch wide. That early belt showed the talent. The years since have revealed the grit.

“Plant and Andrade were tests; Morrell was the proof.”

Riyadh in November: a champion’s first defense vs. Yarde

Benavidez’s first title defense as WBC light heavyweight champion came abroad. On November 22, 2025, at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he met Anthony Yarde (27-3-0). Benavidez closed the show with a Round 7 TKO, keeping the belt and lifting his record to 31-0 (25 KOs). It was a sharp mix of pressure and timing, the kind of finish that travels well anywhere in the world.

The event carried big-fight shine and was staged on PBC pay-per-view. More than a win, it was a mark of command. Champions defend on the road; stars win there.

“Two belts down. Now unify the lot.”

By the numbers: why the “Mexican Monster” is different

Benavidez’s style is pressure with purpose. He breaks guards, rips the body, and stays calm in exchanges. The data matches the eye test:

• Overall record: 30-0 (24 KOs) heading into Morrell; 31-0 (25 KOs) after Yarde; an 80% KO rate.
• Height: 6-foot-2 (188 cm). Reach: 74.5 inches (189 cm). Stance: Orthodox.
• Date of birth: December 17, 1996 (age 28–29 across these bouts).
• Weighed 174.2 pounds for his light heavyweight campaign.
• Nicknames: The Mexican Monster, El Monstro, and The Monster Bandera Roja.

There’s also a human story under the belts. At 13, he stood 5-foot-4 and weighed about 250 pounds. He chose boxing to change his life and build healthy habits. Today, he is a two-belt champion at 175. The arc is not only about titles; it is about growth, discipline, and a long runway still ahead.

What’s next: the road to full unification

After beating Morrell, Benavidez set his target plainly: “I want to unify all four titles.” That’s the mission now that he owns the WBC and WBA light heavyweight titles and has a successful WBC defense against Yarde in the books. The division is deep, but his toolbox and temperament fit the task.

Here’s what makes the push believable:

• He has beaten a variety of styles—athletic movers (Plant, Morrell), clever southpaws (Andrade), and sturdy ex-champions (Gvozdyk).
• He carries late-round stamina and focus, as seen in the Morrell finish and the Plant fight’s closing stretch.
• He now owns experience under pay-per-view lights and on global stages.

The past two years have turned David Benavidez from a promising name into a proven headliner. The wins are strong. The numbers back him up. And the way he fights keeps fans glued to the screen. If he completes the unification he wants, the conversation will shift from rise to reign.

For now, the story is simple and powerful: the kid who once struggled with his weight became the man who carries a division. The “Mexican Monster” has arrived at light heavyweight—with two belts, a spotless record, and a goal that could define an era.