Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez has officially confirmed that he will face David Benavidez on May 2 in Las Vegas, but the announcement comes with a twist, as Benavidez and his team staked out the date long linked to a possible Canelo Alvarez–Terence Crawford rematch, seizing one of boxing’s biggest annual stages for themselves.
Ramirez, the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, embraced the moment while making it clear that business comes first. “It will be your classic Mexican versus Mexican/American war,” he said, adding that he respects Benavidez but expects to have his hand raised in May. Before that can happen, the 34-year-old must first defend his titles on January 16 against unbeaten Robin Sirwan Safar in Palm Desert.
Benavidez enters the fight fresh off a seventh-round stoppage of Anthony Yarde and carries the momentum of an undefeated rise through multiple divisions. The Phoenix-born, Mexican-American star has scored victories over former champions like Demetrius Andrade and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, and his move to cruiserweight signals an aggressive bid to carve out his own legacy while stepping onto a marquee date traditionally dominated by Canelo.
Ramirez, meanwhile, brushed aside talk of IBF champion Jai Opetaia, saying he is focused only on the biggest fights available, as the upcoming matchup with. Benavdez is already considered as the most significant Mexican-heritage clash since Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera in 2010.
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