Gilberto Ramirez on Why Benavidez Is Different
Ramirez contrasted that style with Opetaia’s in unusually blunt terms. While acknowledging Opetaia’s ability, he described him as a fighter who takes chances rather than one who forces sustained work. “Opetaia, he takes some chances,” Ramirez said. “David Benavidez, he’s pushing forward all the time.”
That distinction is important because Opetaia is widely viewed as the division’s defining opponent, the fighter champions are expected to chase to prove themselves. Ramirez did not dismiss him, but he separated danger from reputation. In his view, pressure wears champions down faster than single moments of risk, and Benavidez applies it without pause.
Ramirez also rejected the idea that weight will be a built in advantage for him. He repeatedly described Benavidez as already too large for light heavyweight. “He’s big,” Ramirez said. “I don’t know how he was making 175. He has the size to be a cruiserweight, even a heavyweight one day.”
There was no suggestion that Benavidez’s move up would blunt his output or slow his pace. If anything, Ramirez spoke as though the change removes a limitation rather than introduces one.
That outlook helps explain why the fight came together quickly. Ramirez said the bout did not surprise him and that discussions moved fast once both sides were on board. “It was pretty quick, the discussion and the deal,” he said. “We were working on it to make it happen.”
Notably, Ramirez made no attempt to point out technical flaws or past moments of vulnerability in Benavidez’s resume. Asked what gives him the edge, his answer stayed simple. “I’m the champion,” he said. “I train the right way. I’m smart, and I’m a warrior.”
A Champion’s Read on the Risk
He also admitted he does not obsessively study opponents. “I don’t watch that much boxing, honestly,” Ramirez said, framing his confidence as experience based rather than analytical.
Taken together, Ramirez’s comments draw a clear line. He is not treating Benavidez as a novelty challenger or a temporary stop while waiting on another name. He is identifying him as the kind of opponent who creates real difficulty at cruiserweight, the one who forces constant work and refuses to let a fight slow.
In Ramirez’s telling, the most demanding fight in the division is not necessarily the one everyone is waiting for. It is the one that keeps coming forward until the end.
Read the full article here