NORTH HOLLYWOOD, California – It’s expected to be a collision of power and flash versus sophistication and smarts when light-heavyweight champion David Benavidez meets unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez May 2 in Las Vegas.
Ramirez and his trainer made clear at Thursday’s media workout that they hope there’s proper appreciation for the two-division champion’s techniques.
“One of the biggest things with this fight is that the things ‘Zurdo’ does are very subtle – the way he blocks shots, rolls shots, slips shots, the way he gets away from things,” Ramirez trainer Julian Chua told BoxingScene at Brickhouse Boxing.
Chua emphasized that Ramirez, 48-1 (30 KOs), was not properly credited for his evasiveness and savvy in his only loss, a 2022 unanimous-decision loss to three-belt light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
“A lot of people think the Bivol loss was [convincing]. Look back at that fight, he got away from a lot of those shots. I was with him after, he didn’t have a mark – wasn’t swollen at all,” Chua said.
With Mexico’s Ramirez describing his ring acumen as the most important factor in the showdown, the appreciation for his skill is essential considering his last five bouts have been decided on the judges’ scorecards.
“Boxing is the great key for me in this fight,” Ramirez told BoxingScene of the Prime Video-DAZN pay-per-view bout at T-Mobile Arena.
That concern is compounded by the fact Benavidez, 31-0 (25 KOs), so convincingly sells his offensive style, Chua said.
“A lot of what Benavidez does is flashy – he shoeshines. The tenacity he throws his shots can be optically appealing,” Chua said. “So I’m hoping people – the judges, most importantly – can see that subtlety.”
Ramirez said at the workout he’s “ready” for the bout, thrilled to participate in a bout that follows the Cinco de Mayo weekend tradition carried on previously by Canelo Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather Jnr, Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez Snr.
“There’s a lot of motivation for me, because only the legends fight on Cinco de Mayo. It will be a war this fight,” Ramirez said of his former sparring partner who’ve combined for an estimated 100-plus practice rounds.
Although Benavidez has not lost and not been in any great peril of defeat during his career, Chua said he has diligently studied Benavidez’s showings against fellow left-handers David Morrell, Demetrius Andrade and even Dennis Douglin in 2016.
“For my guys, I’m always in there, always watching whatever I can,” Chua said. “[Benavidez] has had success, but southpaws have had success with him, as well. We need to apply what we can apply.”
“There are some [vulnerabilities], just like there are some in ‘Zurdo’s’ game. A lot of people with Benavidez are not willing to risk where he’s most vulnerable … he’s still unbeaten for a reason, but I’d like to see what adjustments he can make to the adjustments we’re going to apply. We’ve done our due diligence in watching him and studying and understanding him and it’s just going to come down to execution.”
Ramirez was asked if he had anything to say to Benavidez and remarked, “Be ready.”
While Benavidez is a -430 betting favorite, one benefit for 3/1 underdog Ramirez is his comfort in the 200lbs weight class that Benavidez is debuting at – a 25lbs move up from light-heavyweight.
Chua, however, said he’s not expecting Ramirez’s added rehydration weight to allow him to impose his will on Phoenix’s two-division champion Benavidez.
“With this level of skill, I don’t think the size is that big of a factor,” Chua said. “Zurdo’ has been the smaller guy against giants like [Yuniel] Dorticos. You’ve just got to out-skill them. It’s about the skills we bring to the ring, not the size.
“I don’t think that punch for punch Benavidez hits harder than ‘Zurdo.’”
With Ramirez and Chua affirming their readiness, the trainer said he expects Benavidez to be fully prepared despite his hopscotching from gyms in Miami to Las Vegas.
“I’m prepared for and want the best out of him, because when we pull out of here as the winner, I don’t want to hear any excuses,” Chua said. “We won’t have any excuses on our end. We’re giving our all. I hope we give the fight fans what they deserve with this one.”
