We are just days away from Cinco de Mayo weekend, which means we are that much closer to the unified cruiserweight title fight between champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) and the undefeated WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs), live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, on pay-per-view (PPV).
There has been a lot of talk about this fight, given the familiarity between the two fighters, who have sparred many rounds in years past. It’s different now, as Benavidez is moving up to cruiserweight, while Ramirez has been there for a bit and is a two-belt world champion. All that’s left is to see who wins and how.
Is Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Motivated Enough For This High-Level Matchup?
The 34-year-old Ramirez from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, MX, has been a pro since 2009 and will be entering his 50th fight. For years, he killed himself to make weight until, in 2023, he finally gave in and moved up to cruiserweight, where he should have been years earlier. It’s understandable he didn’t make that move earlier, as the more attractive fights were below the cruiserweight division. But when you put your body through the wringer like that for so long, it’s bound to catch up to you. Even though he fights at cruiserweight, Ramirez still has to drop about 30 pounds to make weight.
During fight week, Ramirez made a comment that retirement isn’t too far away. When fighters make statements like that, it’s often because their body may be telling them something that people on the outside can’t see. The problem is, Ramirez is fighting someone who will require him to dig deep, and if his body is already telling him things, he may not be able to shift into another gear on fight night.
Where does that Ramirez stand regarding fight night strategy? He has to use his size to lean on Benavidez while doing great work inside. Ramirez has to find ways to frustrate Benavidez and slow him down. Ramirez is going to have to be risky in spots and throw punches with Benavidez, hoping to get one through Benavidez’s defense, forcing him to reset or maybe even get hurt. The key is staying busy, and Ramirez will have to do that more than he has in his last few fights.
Is This The Moment ‘The Mexican Monster’ David Benavidez Becomes A Superstar?
Benavidez has the unique opportunity to become a world champion in two separate divisions at the same time on Saturday night in Las Vegas. The 29-year-old Benavidez from Phoenix, AZ, has been a terror since turning pro in 2013. Unfortunately, Benavidez had a hard time navigating fame and money, as he failed a drug test and later lost his title on the scale. With a strong support system, Benavidez was able to move past that and once again become the fighter that no one wants to get in the ring with, even Canelo Alvarez. On Saturday night, Benavidez can not only become a unified cruiserweight champion but also capture the imagination of fight fans, thrusting him into further stardom.
With all that being said, Benavidez has a tough task ahead of him on Saturday night. How does he beat Ramirez? Benavidez needs to use his youth, athleticism, punch output, and speed to beat Ramirez. Let’s get something straight. Ramirez has a rock-solid chin and has taken the punches of some of the biggest cruiserweights, so Benavidez shouldn’t get discouraged if he can’t find a way to knock him out. Instead, Benavidez should be on his front foot and force Ramirez to be on his back foot. When Ramirez moves back, he tends to put his guard up and throw fewer punches. Benavidez should keep the fight outside of mid-range and use his long arms to land his combinations from a distance without being in any real danger of a counterpunch. If Benavidez can maintain a high pace for the majority of the fight, he should be able to secure a victory on the cards.
DAVID BENAVIDEZ VS GILBERTO RAMIREZ PREDICTION
Punch output and accuracy will be the deciding factors in this fight, and in the end, that will favor Benavidez. I think he will be a little too much for Ramirez, score a split decision victory in Las Vegas, and become the new unified cruiserweight champion.
DAVID BENAVIDEZ VS GILBERTO RAMIREZ BETTING ODDS
Per BETUS, David Benavidez is the favorite at -650, and Gilberto Ramirez is the underdog at +425.
David Benavidez: TKO/KO +265; Decision -140
Draw: +1600
Gilberto Ramirez: TKO/KO +1000; Decision +550
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