David Benavidez set a new record in Las Vegas with his world title win for the vacant WBC belt.
David Benavidez won the WBC 168lbs belt this weekend that was vacated by previous champion Badou Jack.
American Benavidez won a split decision on points to win the title over opponent Romanian Ronald Gavril.
Benavidez was dropped in the 12th and final round but still got the decision with two of the judges scoring the bout 116-111 and 117-111 in his favor.
The other judge scored it 117-111 to Gavril.
David Benavidez set a new record as the youngest fighter to ever win the WBC title at super-middleweight, doing so at 20 years of age and nine months old.
The belt was previously expected to be contested by the UK’s Callum Smith and the US’ Anthony Dirrell but Smith instead opted to compete in the new World Boxing Super Series tournament – while Dirrell could not compete for the belt due to injury.
Badou Jack relinquished the belt earlier this year to move up to the light-heavyweight division to pursue new challenges at 175lbs.
The win last night progressed Benavidez’s record to 19-0-17KO as a professional. Gavril dropped back to 18-2-4KO.
