David Benavidez showed the boxing world exactly why they call him “The Monster.”
The undefeated Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) unified the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles with a one-sided sixth-round knockout of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the process, the former super middleweight and light heavyweight champion became a three-division world titleholder — the only fighter in history to hold belts at super middleweight, light heavyweight, and now cruiserweight.
Benavidez completely overwhelmed Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs), dropping him late in Round 4 and finishing the job with a vicious combination at the end of Round 6 that left the former champion on the canvas with no desire to continue.
“I just want to give the fans what they want to see,” Benavidez said afterward. “I saw Canelo in the building tonight. Let me ask the fans — do you guys want to see Canelo vs. David Benavidez?”
The Las Vegas crowd responded enthusiastically to the callout, even as boos rained down earlier when Canelo’s name was mentioned during the Cinco de Mayo weekend event. While a showdown with Alvarez remains highly unlikely at this stage, Benavidez made his intentions clear.
From the opening bell, Benavidez’s hand speed and power carried over impressively in his 25-pound jump to cruiserweight. He controlled the action with sharp rights and combinations, forcing Ramirez backward. Though Zurdo pressed forward aggressively, especially in Round 4, Benavidez backed him up and dropped him with a blistering flurry just before the bell.
By Round 6, Ramirez’s right eye was nearly swollen shut. Benavidez poured on the pressure, landing another clean combination that staggered the champion and prompted the stoppage.
Benavidez was in complete control throughout, proving once again that he belongs among the sport’s elite. With this star-making performance, “The Monster” has positioned himself for even bigger opportunities ahead.