David Benavidez moved up to cruiserweight and immediately took Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez’s WBA and WBO titles with a sixth-round stoppage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Benavidez finished Ramirez at 2:59 of Round 6, improving to 32-0 while Ramirez fell to 48-2. Ramirez took a knee late in Round 4, battled through Round 5, then took another knee in Round 6 after a fast combination caused severe swelling around his right eye. He went to the hospital after the fight.
The win gave Benavidez another major result after his light heavyweight run, which included his stoppage of Anthony Yarde. Ramirez entered as the bigger man and a proven cruiserweight champion, but Benavidez’s speed and volume decided the fight.
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Benavidez Built The Stoppage Round By Round
Round 1 gave away the main problem for Ramirez right away. Benavidez was smaller at the weight, but he was much quicker, snapping the jab through Ramirez’s guard and closing the round with a fast burst of punches.
Round 2 stayed in Benavidez’s control. Ramirez tried to get close and work the body, but Benavidez defended well, landed right hands, and added a clean left hook upstairs.
Round 3 made the speed gap even clearer. Benavidez landed repeated combinations, including long flurries to the head, while Ramirez pressed forward without landing enough heavy shots to change the fight.
Round 4 produced the first knockdown. Benavidez hurt Ramirez with heavy right hands and forced him to take a knee near the end of the round.
Round 5 was Ramirez’s best response. He ignored the safer advice from his corner, stood his ground, and forced exchanges, but Benavidez still landed the sharper shots.
Round 6 ended it. Benavidez returned to cleaner boxing at range, then opened up late with another fast combination. Ramirez’s right eye swelled badly after the final burst, and he signaled he was done when the referee approached.
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Benavidez is now a world champion in three weight classes, with prior WBC super middleweight reigns, light heavyweight gold, and unified WBA/WBO cruiserweight titles. Ramirez previously held the WBO super middleweight title and later unified cruiserweight belts before losing them Saturday.
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After the win, Benavidez shifted the focus to Canelo Alvarez, who was in the building. Alvarez remains a champion across four weight classes and the first undisputed super middleweight champion in boxing history, which is why Benavidez has chased that matchup for years.
“I just want to give the fans what they want to see,” Benavidez said after the fight. “I’ve seen Canelo in the building. Let me just ask the fans this. Do you guys want to see Canelo vs. David Benavidez? Enough said. We can’t leave that fight on the table. I have respect for Canelo, who is a great champion, but I’m a great champion, too. Let’s do it!”
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“I’m still champion at 175,” Benavidez said. “I’m champion at 200 and 175. So, if they want to come get it at 175, let’s get it at 175!”
Canelo already has his own title business in motion, including the reported Christian Mbilli matchup. Benavidez made his case stronger by jumping weight, beating a legitimate champion, and calling for Alvarez from the ring.
