Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez finally said the quiet part out loud: he wants the biggest names, the biggest noise, and the biggest Mexican showdown the cruiserweight division has ever seen. And now he’s getting exactly that. On May 2 in Las Vegas, the unified cruiserweight champion will face the unbeaten wrecking machine David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez in what already feels like the kind of fight you’ll still hear people talking about years later.
Ramirez has only just gotten back into the gym after shoulder surgery in July, returning to work at Brickhouse Boxing Club. Before he touches Benavidez, though, he has business in January: a title defense against unbeaten Robin Sirwan Safar in Palm Desert. It’ll be Zurdo’s 50th professional fight, and the Swede is no walkover; he upset Sergey Kovalev last year and comes in with some confidence. Still, the real gravitational pull is May 2.
Why Ramirez Picked Benavidez Over A Cruiserweight Unification
Ramirez could’ve chased a unification with Jai Opetaia or waited on the WBC situation with Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelian. Instead, he swerved. He wants Benavidez — a younger, undefeated two-division world champion punching up in weight and swinging like he’s trying to break something.
Zurdo put it pretty bluntly:
“This is something I’ve targeted for years. It will be your classic Mexican versus Mexican/American war… They’re great people, but business is business, and come May, I will have my arm raised.”
That’s as clean as it gets. No shade, no theatrics — just a man who knows the moment.
And when Opetaia started chirping from a distance, Ramirez didn’t bother pretending to be impressed.
“I didn’t even know who Opetaia was until recently… I think he might have rocks for brains. This guy hasn’t impressed me at all; he’s fought a bunch of cannon fodders… All these outbursts remind me of my ex-girlfriends.”
That’s not the voice of someone worried. That’s someone who knows where the bigger stage is.
Benavidez Is Coming Up In Weight… And Coming Off A Stoppage
Benavidez just smashed Anthony Yarde in seven rounds and added another former world champion to his résumé. Andrade, Dirrell, Lemieux, Plant, Gvozdyk — all scalps. Now he wants a third division and a shot at history as a Mexican-American moving up to try and dethrone a unified champion.
He’s younger, meaner, fresher — and he hits like a truck even before the extra cruiserweight bulk.
Cinco de Mayo weekend in Vegas rarely misses. This one feels like it could be the biggest all-Mexican fight since the Morales vs Barrera era, and that’s not lightweight praise.
Honest ringside view
Zurdo is big, smooth, and crafted for the cruiserweight pace. Benavidez is explosive, relentless, and coming in with the confidence of a man who hasn’t tasted defeat. Someone’s hype gets checked. Someone’s stock skyrockets. And with the Mexican fanbase behind both sides, this thing is going to make Vegas sound like it’s levitating.
People acting like this fight gonna be legendary but I bet it turns boring once they feel each other out and start hugging every round 😒.
Yup! All this hype for nothing if they both scared to throw hands when bell rings 🤦♂️.
True true, last time we got hyped like this it ended up all jabs and running around 🏃♂️💨.
All these fighters talking mess instead of proving it in the ring first. Ramirez sounds more like a drama queen than a boxer lately 🤷.
He need to shut up and show us with his fists not his mouth! Fighters talk too much now days 📢👊.
Back in my day boxers earned respect by fighting everybody not picking who makes more noise 🙄.
‘Zurdo only picking Benavidez cause it’s Cinco de Mayo weekend and he wanna look cool in front of Mexicans in Vegas. It’s about fame not the fight 😤.
Benavidez not ready for cruiserweight fights yet. Just cause you beat some smaller guys don’t mean you can take on big dudes like Zurdo.
‘Zactly! You can’t just skip weight classes and think it’s all same thing, muscle don’t mean nothing when they hit harder.
I think Ramirez scared of Opetaia, that’s why he talking trash and choosing Benavidez instead. He don’t want that smoke from a real cruiserweight champ.
Yeah bro, calling someone rocks for brains ain’t smart if you ducking them at the same time 😂.
Benavidez is gonna destroy Ramirez. He too fast and strong for someone that just got shoulder surgery. Ramirez making a dumb move picking this fight 🤦.
I don’t get why Zurdo would fight Benavidez instead of unifying with the other champions. That’s what real champions do. He just wants attention and money 💰.
Exactly! If he really wanted legacy, he’d go unify the belts first. This is just a hype fight for clout, not greatness.