Benavidez, 29, became a two-division world champion in just three fights at light heavyweight. He captured his first world championship at super middleweight three months before turning 21, making him the youngest 168-pound world champion in history.
Fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend is significant to Benavidez. “That date is legendary because we already know what’s coming with that date. We’re going to make history. Two Mexican fighters fighting on Cinco de Mayo for the cruiserweight belts. It doesn’t feel any better than for me to give my people what they want to see on our day.”
The two compatriots are very familiar with each other; they have sparred many times. Benavidez helped Ramirez prepare for his super middleweight championship fight against Arthur Abraham in April 2016, when Zurdo became Mexico’s first-ever 168-pound world champion.
Ramirez is looking forward to sharing the ring with Benavidez. “I’m so excited to headline this event. I believe we have the potential to give fans the ‘Fight of the Year’. While me and David Benavidez have sparred close to 200 rounds together over our careers, being in the ring for real is so much different. This will not just be a regular fight; this is going to be a war.”
While Benavidez is only moving up one weight class to challenge Zurdo for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, it is a large step up.
In each of his last three fights, Zurdo Ramirez has weighed in at over 199 pounds, just under the cruiserweight division’s 200-pound weight limit. In November against Yarde, Benavidez weighed in at 174.3 pounds. Benavidez is younger and is the betting favorite over Zurdo in the Cinco de Mayo showdown. But even for a big light heavyweight like David Benavidez, moving up 25 pounds in weight to fight a multi-division world champion in just over five months is difficult to do.
Benavidez intends to return to light heavyweight after his fight with Ramirez. The plan is to fight again on Mexican Independence Day Weekend, September 12. Benavidez will seek out one of the two orcas at light heavyweight: Dmitrii Bivol (24-1, 12 KO) or Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KO).
Benavidez seems bullish about grabbing the mantle of Mexico’s top two boxing weekends by the horns. “I don’t hope, that’s what it’s going to be. The way I make sure of that is I’m just going to make the best fights happen. Hopefully, we get Beterbiev or Bivol right here in September, and then next year, the same thing. Just keep it going, giving fans the biggest fights possible.”
At 168 pounds, Benavidez defeated top super middleweights, including Anthony Dirrell, Caleb Plant, and David Lemieux. He was the only man able to solve defensive ace Demetrius Andrade, knocking out the previously undefeated Rhode Island native after six rounds, the last time we have seen Andrade. Of course, there was one man whom Benavidez yearned to take on at 168 pounds.
Frustrated by Canelo Alvarez’s unwillingness to fight him at super middleweight, Benavidez moved on and moved up in weight. After three fights at light heavyweight and three victories against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, David Morrell, and Anthony Yarde, Benavidez became a two-division world champion.
With 25 knockouts in 31 victories, it is easy to assume Benavidez wins solely by overpowering opponents. What makes The Mexican Monster scary is that he has boxing skills to set up his prolific power. According to Compubox, Benavidez connects with 38.5% of his punches, the second-highest percentage in the sport.
The quickest way from point A to point B is a straight line, an adage that Benavidez lives by when throwing punches. His jab is accurate and powerful. His crosses and hooks are direct. He throws uppercuts with malicious intent. By using exemplary footwork to keep opponents at his preferred range, Benavidez puts himself in a position to land destructive punches.
His last fight against Yarde was a good example. The fight turned in the fourth round when Benavidez began to utilize his power jab. Benavidez got Yarde’s attention by landing a handful of jabs. As Yarde adjusted to parry the straight, hard jabs, he left himself vulnerable to crosses and hooks around his defensive guard. Benavidez was happy to take advantage, and in due course the referee waved off the bout a few rounds later.
Only time will tell if David Benavidez can become Mexico’s next boxing superstar, joining the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar de la Hoya, and Canelo Alvarez. Many dominant Mexican boxers have plied their trade in the lower weight divisions.
The last sixty years have seen conquistadors like Vicente Saldivar, Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate, Salvador Sanchez, Ricardo Lopez, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera dominate the lighter weight divisions.
For Benavidez, plying his trade at light heavyweight and cruiserweight figures to put wind in his sails towards becoming a household name. Generally, fans pay more attention to the bigger weight classes. Speaking English and Spanish helps connect with fans. As an offensive-first fighter who does not mind trading punches, he is well-suited to be a fan favorite, like many Mexican fighters before him.
At the moment, Benavidez does not seem too concerned about being the face of boxing. “A lot of people have been throwing out there the ‘face of boxing’. I’m just trying to be what I know I am, and that’s one of the baddest dudes on the planet, calling everybody out and beating these fighters and winning championships. If that earns me the title of face of boxing, then I guess that’s what it is.”
Wresting two cruiserweight belts away from Zurdo Ramirez on Saturday night would be a significant step towards reaching stardom. Going on to defeat Bivol or Beterbiev in September would give Benavidez a great case for Fighter of the Year and supply his career with massive momentum.
Those are two monstrous tasks, but David Benavidez is not worried. “This is why boxing is boxing. The real fights are 50-50, I don’t want easy fights. I want to achieve my greatness and show the fans who I am.”
The appropriate moniker to give Benavidez is a discussion for the future, but on Saturday night, the title of “unified cruiserweight champion” will be enough for The Mexican Monster.
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