Benavidez routs Gvozdyk for interim 175 title despite pre-fight injuries
Wins unanimous decision in move up to light heavyweight
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LAS VEGAS — During final month of his training camp, David Benavidez tore a ligament in his right hand, hurt his left, and suffered a small cut over his left eye. But those issues were not enough to stop him.
Benavidez, who refused to pull out of the fight, made a successful move up to light heavyweight and won a lopsided decision over Oleksandr Gvozdyk to win the vacant WBC interim title in the co-feature of the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin PBC on Prime PPV card on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Benavidez, a two-time WBC super middleweight titleholder and the reigning interim 168-pound titlist, won 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112. Fight Freaks Unite had Benavidez winning 118-110.
“I went up in weight, won every single round and dominated a former world champion and an Olympian as well,” Benavidez said.
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