David Benavidez Announces Next Move

Benavidez Makes It Official: “I’m Ready for Zurdo”

Fresh off outlanding Yarde 159 to 58 in a one-sided, punishing performance, Benavidez looked unmarked and energized the kind of condition that makes a two-division jump not only possible, but believable.

“It’s what I expected,” Benavidez said in the ring.

“He stepped into Monstruo’s world and he got KOd.”

Now “Monstruo” enters Zurdo’s world the cruiserweights and he’s doing it without hesitation.

Zurdo Ramirez: Surgery, Tune-Up, and a Superfight Looming

Gilberto Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) underwent shoulder surgery this summer after defeating Yuniel Dorticos in June. He had planned a tune-up fight for January 16, but Benavidez’s announcement may change the timeline.

As of now, Ramirez is training in Los Angeles and has not officially confirmed whether he’ll keep the tune-up or head straight into the May 2 showdown.

Regardless, Zurdo has never been shy about fighting Benavidez.

“He’s a great champion… if the money is right, we can make the fight happen,” Ramirez told The Ring.

“We’ve had amazing sparring sessions. Pay-per-view worthy. Two Mexicans throwing down it could be fight of the year.”

Mutual Respect But Real Violence Incoming

Despite the cordial relationship between both families, neither man is approaching this matchup lightly. The Benavidez and Ramirez teams have long acknowledged their sparring history hard, competitive, and memorable.

Jose Benavidez Sr., father and trainer of David, believes the time is perfect.

“We can move up to cruiserweight. It would be an honor to face Zurdo.”

“David feels good at 168, 175, and he can go to cruiserweight as well. He’s right in the middle it’s just about adjusting.”

It’s rare in modern boxing for friends to fight each other. But it’s even rarer to find two Mexican warriors who wouldn’t fight each other if it means proving they’re the best.