David Benavidez is set for one of the boldest moves of his career as he moves up to cruiserweight to challenge unified WBA and WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas.
Benavidez will be chasing history as he attempts to become a three-division world champion. Already a former two-time WBC super middleweight titleholder and the reigning WBC light heavyweight champion, he most recently defended his belt with a dominant seventh-round TKO of Anthony Yarde in November. Shortly after that win, Benavidez made it clear he wanted Ramírez next, targeting both the challenge of a new weight class and a marquee fight on a major boxing weekend.
For Ramírez the matchup represents arguably the defining moment of his career. The Mexican southpaw is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Yuniel Dorticos last June and will head straight into the Benavidez fight without a tune-up. Originally penciled in for a January appearance, Ramírez opted instead to remain focused on the biggest opportunity available. “Truly honored to defend my WBA and WBO titles and represent Mexico on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas,” Ramírez said as the fight was finalized.
Ramírez captured the WBA cruiserweight title in March 2024 against Arsen Goulamirian and unified later that year with a win over Chris Billam-Smith to add the WBO belt. His only professional loss remains a 2022 decision defeat to Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight. Now fully settled at cruiserweight, Ramírez is attempting to cement himself as the division’s top figure while fending off one of boxing’s most aggressive challengers.
For Benavidez, this is expected to be a one-off campaign at cruiserweight. Regardless of the result, he has indicated plans to return to light heavyweight afterward. Ramírez, on the other hand, has openly discussed even bigger ambitions, including a long-term goal of becoming the first fighter born in Mexico to win a heavyweight world title.
Fight card:
▪️Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez vs. David Benavidez, 12 rounds, for Ramirez’s WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles
