At the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, one of the most impressive performances of David Benavidez’s career allowed the American fighter to capture the WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles, taking them from Mexico’s Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. The challenger dominated the fight, showcasing outstanding hand speed and an effective, pragmatic defense, closing the show with a knockout in the sixth round. “Bandera Roja” improved his perfect record to 32 wins, 26 of them by stoppage.
As expected on the eve of the fight, both boxers immediately took center ring and engaged at mid-range. While fairly competitive, the opening round already highlighted Benavidez’s speed advantage, as he was quicker and sharper both in throwing and reacting.
The challenger took full control in the second round, landing at will with both hands and unleashing combinations in the closing moments without Ramirez finding effective answers.
Stung by pride, the champion tried to respond, but his pressure lacked effectiveness. In both the third and fourth rounds, Benavidez only needed to press the accelerator late in the round to neutralize everything Ramirez had done earlier.
The end of the fourth round proved especially damaging for Ramirez. After defending well with his back on the ropes, Benavidez unleashed a barrage of punches, first forcing Zurdo backward and then dropping him to his knees after landing four consecutive hooks in the span of a second. The champion, bleeding from the face, looked completely disoriented.
Zurdo went all-in in the fifth round, advancing recklessly in an attempt to use his size, but Benavidez’s defense—one of the most underrated in boxing—was on full display, minimizing the impact of the Mexican’s attacks.
By moving his head and upper body effectively and cleverly using his arms to disrupt the opponent’s rhythm, the challenger neutralized Ramirez’s best weapons. At the same time, Benavidez continued to inflict damage, especially with the right hook, favoring power over speed against a wounded opponent nearing collapse.
Ramirez’s inevitable downfall came in the closing moments of a one-sided sixth round, as Benavidez’s punches repeatedly pierced his guard. A storm of precise uppercuts and hooks forced Zurdo back to his knees just before the bell, helplessly listening to referee Thomas Taylor’s full count.
Benavidez’s victory was particularly impressive considering that, in 49 professional fights, Ramirez had shown a very solid chin and had only been knocked down once, back in 2011. “Bandera Roja” broke him down with surprising ease, taking minimal risks and finishing the fight looking fresh.
This kind of win, which earns the American world champion status in a third weight class, will undoubtedly push Benavidez into the upper tier of the pound-for-pound rankings—a well-deserved recognition for a fighter who keeps improving and consistently delivers excitement.
It is still unclear whether the winner will defend his newly won cruiserweight titles or move back down to light heavyweight to face the division’s current number one, Dmitrii Bivol. During his post-fight interview in the ring, Benavidez called out Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who was present in the arena, inviting him to fight at 175 pounds—a challenge that, however, seems unlikely to be accepted.