David Benavidez Discusses Showdown with Zurdo Ramirez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrYL-I6Cqck

Undefeated two-division world champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez looks to add another title to his collection as he makes his cruiserweight debut against unified WBA and WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez of Mazatlan, Mexico. Benavidez goes up against Zurdo Ramirez Saturday, May 2^nd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on PBC on Prime PPV. 

“I’m very excited man it’s going to be a very great matchup. I will be making history this will be my first time fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend,” David Benavidez told Fightnews.com, “I’m working hard and ready,” Benavidez added. 

Benavidez headlines the festive Cinco de Mayo weekend for the first time. A festive boxing tradition that goes back to the Julio Cesar Chavez Pay per view days. Benavidez reminisced watching some of the fights dating back to his childhood.

“I’m very excited it feels good this is a date I’ve been trying to get for a long time. Basically, every time a fighter fights headlines on May 5^th or September 16^th it’s a sign that you captured the Mexican audience. I want to be the biggest fighter in all of boxing, this is the start,” Benavidez said. “There were so many fights, I remembered De la Hoya Mayweather, there has been a lot of great fights, and I have been watching boxing since I was a kid and I’m just happy and proud to be a part of that now,” 

Making the jump to cruiserweight, Benavidez looks to add to his legacy as champion as he has captured titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight. Winning his first world title in 2017 by edging out Jason Gavril to win the WBC super-middleweight title. Last year, Benavidez moved up to light-heavyweight to win the WBC light-heavyweight title as he targets Zurdo’s titles.

“This fight represents a lot for me. Winning these titles makes me a three-division world champion. This is a big moment in my life, its showing everything I set out to be, and I want to be the face of boxing and give the fans what they want to see,” Benavidez explained. 

Wrapping up camp in Las Vegas, Benavidez is nearly wrapped up with the preparation as it has been different this time for Benavidez, no longer having to cut weight and making the move up to cruiser. Benavidez has been preparing with his long-time trainer/father Jose Benavidez as they gear up for Zurdo.

“Camp has been going great. Everything has been good we have been working hard. Got to Las Vegas last week, we have been putting in work. This fight is going to feel different because I haven’t had to lose weight. This is going to be me at my best,”

With no bad blood, Benavidez and Zurdo have to utmost respect for each other. Having been in several camps together that dates back to Benavidez’s youth. Zurdo is coming off a unanimous decision over Yunier Dorticos last June. Ramirez won the WBO title with a unanimous decision over Chris Billam Smith last year as he gets set to make his second defense. His only defeat came at the hands of Dmitry Bivol back in 2022 as he comes into this fight with a four-fight win streak. 

“There is a lot of history between me and Zurdo. I sparred him when I was 17, that was the first time, but I have sparred hundreds of rounds with him. He is a great fighter, I know him really well, I know his strengths and weaknesses. I’m looking to expose all that, there is a lot of respect, no hatred, a good dude but at the end of the day, I’m going to try and knock him out,” Banavidez on Zurdo Ramirez.

The undefeated Benavidez scored a seventh-round stoppage over Anthony Yarde in his last fight this past November in Riyadh. Last year, he also scored a win over previously undefeated David Morrell. 

“I will try to beat the shit out of him during the fight. I see it as kill or be killed. You don’t play boxing. I am not going to look at him as my friend. I don’t expect him to take it easy. We will leave it all in the ring,” Benavidez said. 

Attempting to win his third world title in his third weight division, Benavidez brings excitement to the cruiserweight division. The division also includes undefeated Jai Opetaia, WBC champion Noel Mikaelian, and Chris Billam Smith. 

“I think what I bring to table is something different. Cruiserweights can’t punch like me. I’m not going to flex my power I will use defense and combinations. I’m one of the fastest fighters in boxing today. So imagine going up to cruiserweight, I will use these skills and attributes to get me get the victory,”

Winning his first world title at super middleweight, Benavidez won his second title in 2024 with a decision over Oleksandr Gvozdyk capturing the WBC light heavyweight title. Benavidez now attempts to dethrone Zurdo.

“A victory pushes me to the next level. Champion in three divisions. It shows that I’m not fearless, I want to fight the best,” Benavidez said. 

Benavidez was asked about his interest to possibly move up to heavyweight in the future, and the champ gave his response as he talked about his numerous options and plans at light heavyweight. 

“I wouldn’t go to heavyweight. I still have some unfinished business at cruiserweight. I want to become unified champion at 175, I want to fight Beterbiev. I also want to unify at cruiserweight too. There is a lot of fights, heavyweight is out of my reach, I’m barely 29. I think maybe heavyweight at 35 but right now, if I can capture the light heavyweight or cruiserweight titles,” Benavidez stated. “Right now, cruiserweight is different than what it was. We have some great fighters, Zurdo Ramirez and Jai Opetaia, those are two great fights to be made. Beating those two fighters will have the cruiserweight on lock. I’m trying to bring light to myself,”

When asked about the possibility for a showdown with undefeated champion Jai Opetaia, Benavidez responded.

“The only other challenge is Jai Opetaia, I give him his flowers his credit, he is a great fighter with a lot of power. The only other threat. There is already a lot of obstacles to get that fight done because he is with Zuffa Boxing. Zuffa has made it apparent that they don’t want to mess with the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. So, there is already that obstacle. It’s a big fight as of right now, I’m not sure what’s going on,”

And then there is Canelo.

“The way I see it, if it happens, I’m happy. If it doesn’t, I’m happy. It doesn’t do anything, if I don’t get the fight, it doesn’t hurt me. At the end of the day, it’s not all about Canelo but it would be a shame if we left that fight on the table,” Benavidez said. 

Moving forward in building his own legacy, Benavidez’s focus remains on his showdown against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez as the fight is a little over two weeks away as this is the first time two Mexican cruiserweights square off for the cruiserweight title. 

“You can expect the best David Benavidez. I can’t wait to perform May 2^nd,” Benavidez concluded. “We are also going to make history because this is the first time two Mexicans will be fighting for the Cruiserweight title,”

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