![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Gun-300x168.jpg\")
<\/a>At 20 years, 9 months old, David Benavidez became boxing\u2019s youngest world champion \u2013 and the youngest ever in the super middleweight division \u2013 with a split decision victory over Ronald Gavril on Friday night on an exciting night of 168-pound action on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. See the video of the decision via Twitter link HERE.<\/p>\nBenavidez (19-0, 17 KOs) placed the previously vacated WBC Super Middleweight belt around his waist after winning the title against former European amateur standout Gavril (18-2, 14 KOs) in what Benavidez later described as quite possibly the \u201cFight of the Year.\u201d One scorecard had Gavril winning 116-111, with Benavidez winning on the other two scorecards, 116-111 and 117-111 in the event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels amazing to win this title,\u201d said the Phoenix resident Benavidez. \u201cIt\u2019s everything I\u2019ve dreamed about since I was a little kid. It\u2019s everything I\u2019ve dedicated myself to and I\u2019ve worked hard for. It finally paid off.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old Romanian Gavril, who trains at Mayweather\u2019s Gym in Las Vegas by Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, sent Benavidez to the canvas with a left hook with just 50 seconds left in the wild 12th and final round.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel I won the fight. I dominated the pace. I can\u2019t say anything else other than it was up to the judges,\u201d Gavril said, who was watched by his promoter all-time great Floyd Mayweather from ringside. \u201cThe only thing I can do is to ask for a rematch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Benavidez, who turned pro at age 16 and only had 15 amateur fights, took control of the fight early on, but Gavril seemed to gain steam mid-fight, out-boxing and being more active than Benavidez in the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds. In rounds 11 and 12, Benavidez out-landed Gavril 66-35 overall and 53-14 with power punches.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt my performance was good except for the last round when I got too anxious and wanted to knock him out,\u201d Benavidez said. \u201cI let my young side takeover and I wanted to give the fans a great fight. I didn’t really feel hurt but it was a shock knockdown. I know to be careful and more cautious. It was a learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
In another super middleweight contest, Abie Han suffered a devastating accidental head-butt against J\u2019Leon Love at 1:02 into the eighth round and the fight went to the scorecards. One judge had Las Vegas\u2019 Love winning 79-73, and the other two 76-76 making the decision a technical majority draw.<\/p>\n
Following an exchange of punches, Love (23-1-1, 13 KOs) leaned in and the two fighter banged heads in violent fashion. Han (26-3-1, 16 KOs) of El Paso, Texas, was left stunned and fell to the floor as blood gushed from his forehead above his left eye and he was immediately checked on by referee Kenny Bayless.<\/p>\n
Han, who left the arena sitting up on a stretcher before hearing the decision, won the statistical battle in the ring. Han landed more blows (78-47 overall, 20-12 jabs, 58-35 power) and did so more accurately (24 percent to 17 percent overall, 16 percent to eight percent jabs and 30 percent to 27 percent power).<\/p>\n
SHOWTIME boxing analyst Al Bernstein had Han winning by one point at the time of the stoppage.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t rate my performance as great because I didn\u2019t get a victory, I got a draw,\u201d said Love, who once trained at the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit under Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old Love ended nearly a one-year layoff with his return to the ring. \u201cI\u2019m kind of rusty but I feel like I pressed the action and tried to take it to him,\u201d he said. \u201cOther than that I feel like I landed the cleaner shots.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the opening bout of the telecast, unbeaten super middleweight prospect Caleb Plant (16-0, 10 KOs) recorded a 10-round shutout decision against a tough Andrew Hernandez (19-7-1, 9 KOs), 100-90 three times.<\/p>\n
Plant, who resides in Las Vegas by way of Ashland City, Tenn., was the more active fighter against the 31-year-old switch-hitting journeyman Hernandez, who took the fight on just eight days’ notice after Alan Campa dropped out. Plant jabbed effectively (81 of 271, 30 percent) while neutralizing Hernandez’s usually effective jab (46 of 325, 14 percent). Plant was also sharp with his power shots landing 44 percent to Hernandez’s 19 percent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m very pleased with my performance,\u201d Plant said. \u201cI boxed well and I dictated the pace. I pressed when I needed to press and boxed when I needed to box. I felt I put on a great show for the fans. I want to be star in boxing. I know with hard work I can accomplish anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cHernandez is tough, I sent him with everything and he stood tall and my hats off to him. He\u2019s a tough competitor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hernandez, from Phoenix, Ariz., suffered a cut under his left eye in the third and it caused him problems throughout the fight, opening up and bleeding over the final two rounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll respect to Caleb Plant on his performance tonight,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cHe put on a solid fight and he\u2019s got a great future. I was happy I was able to stay in there and last the entire 10 rounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt Caleb won, but I don\u2019t think it was 10 rounds to none. But that\u2019s not for me to decide. It\u2019s all up to the judges at the end of the day it only matters what they think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plant added: \u201cI’m ready to step up in competition and fight anybody in the top 10 of the super middleweight division. I got my eye on Benavidez and all the other world champions. I’m coming!\u201d<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s tripleheader will replay on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 9 a.m. ET\/PT, and Monday, Sept. 11, at 10 p.m. ET\/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME on DEMAND\u00ae and SHOWTIME ANYTIME\u00ae.<\/p>\n
Barry Tompkins called the action from ringside with Bernstein and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.<\/p>\n