WBA to Order Mandatory Title Defense After Bivol vs. Beterbiev III

Newly crowned WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) is next in line for another world title — this time under the WBA banner, currently held by Dmitry Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs).

According to a WBA announcement, the organization will officially order a mandatory title defense following the third fight between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. With Bivol recently vacating his WBC title, Benavidez was elevated to full WBC champion — and now has a clear path toward unification.

This sets the stage for a potentially stacked post-trilogy landscape, as the winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev III may be hit with not one, but three mandatory challengers: David Benavidez (WBA), Callum Smith (WBO), Michael Eifert (IBF).

The light heavyweight division just keeps heating up.