Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and David Benavidez are set to meet in a fight that could reshape the North American boxing landscape.
Ramirez will put his unified cruiserweight world championship belts on the line against Benavidez. Benavidez is risking his status as the seventh-best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, according to Uncrowned’s latest rankings, and fighting for the first time in the 200-pound division.
From Sparring Partners to Rivals
The upcoming bout has been years in the making, with roots tracing back to a sparring session in 2016. Benavidez, then a prospect, was brought into Ramirez’s camp to assist in his preparation for a title shot against Arthur Abraham. Ramirez won that fight by lopsided decision.
Ramirez said the sparring sessions would have been a great pay-per-view.
Benavidez stated, “I was only 17 years old but I always knew I was going to fight him. I just didn’t think it would be at cruiserweight. But, honestly, this is even better.”
Ramirez’s Development Since Sparring
Ramirez believes he has evolved since those sparring sessions, gaining both muscle and technical skill. He said he’s gained more experience that he’s going to take into this fight.
More Than Just Titles at Stake
The WBA and WBO belts are not the only things at stake. The winner could become the face of the sport, headlining one of boxing’s most important weekends, Cinco de Mayo.
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso said the former four-division champ will attend the T-Mobile Arena as a spectator to support his stablemate, Jaime Munguia.
The fight is scheduled for Saturday, May 2.