Benavidez Stops Ramirez in Sixth, Calls Out Canelo and Opetaia

Key facts

• David Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) defeated Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) by sixth-round KO on May 2, 2026.
• The fight took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
• Benavidez captured the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, adding to his WBC light heavyweight belt.
• He became the only boxer in history to hold world titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight.
• Benavidez knocked down Ramirez twice: once in the fourth round and again in the sixth, after which Ramirez failed to beat the count.
• The event was a PBC Pay-Per-View broadcast on Prime Video and DAZN, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
• Benavidez called out Canelo Álvarez and Jai Opetaia in the post-fight press conference.

A Dominant Beatdown on Cinco de Mayo Weekend

David Benavidez delivered a career-defining performance on Saturday night, stopping Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez in the sixth round to become the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion. The fight, held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Cinco de Mayo weekend, saw Benavidez overwhelm Ramirez with blistering combinations and superior hand speed. Benavidez, now 32-0 with 26 knockouts, dropped Ramirez twice—once in the fourth round with a flurry of hooks and again in the sixth with a series of punches that left the champion on his knee, shaking his head as the referee counted him out. The victory made Benavidez a three-division world champion, having previously held titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight.

History Made: Three-Division Champion

With the win, Benavidez became the only boxer in history to hold world titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight. Before the fight, he was ranked No. 7 on Uncrowned's pound-for-pound list, but his performance against Ramirez—a former champion with a 48-2 record—solidified his claim as one of the sport's elite. Ramirez, who entered the ring as the unified cruiserweight champion, was unable to cope with Benavidez's speed and accuracy. Despite pressing forward in the early rounds, Ramirez's right eye swelled shut, and he was visibly hurt by Benavidez's power shots. The end came when a pair of combinations in the final seconds of the sixth round forced Ramirez to take a knee and decide he wanted no more.

Post-Fight Callouts: Canelo and Opetaia

In the ring after the fight, Benavidez seized the microphone and addressed the crowd, calling out Mexican superstar Canelo Álvarez, who was in attendance. 'I saw Canelo in the building. Do you guys want to see Canelo vs. David Benavidez?' Benavidez asked, drawing a receptive response from the Las Vegas crowd. However, analysts consider a fight between the two highly unlikely at this stage of their careers. Later, in the post-fight press conference, Benavidez turned his attention to Jai Opetaia, the undefeated IBF cruiserweight champion. 'I think that's the biggest fight in the world, especially at this weight division,' Benavidez said. 'I'm not scared of nobody. This is Monstruo's world.' He expressed frustration that Opetaia had signed with Zuffa Boxing, a promotion backed by UFC president Dana White, suggesting it could complicate negotiations.

The Politics of Boxing: Zuffa and Future Fights

Benavidez did not mince words when discussing the challenges of making a fight with Opetaia. 'I don't know why he went to Zuffa. We could have made that fight right after this one,' Benavidez said. 'I'm not going to go there and fight for a Zuffa title.' He criticized the promotional divide, stating that Dana White has shown reluctance to work with PBC and DAZN. 'Fighters are definitely losing their power signing for Zuffa,' Benavidez added. 'It's just a lot of politics. If we can come to an agreement and make a big fight, let's do it.' The comments highlight the ongoing fragmentation in boxing, where promotional rivalries often prevent the biggest matchups from happening.

A Night of Boxing: Undercard Highlights

The event also featured a WBA super middleweight title fight, where Jaime Munguia defeated Armando Resendiz by unanimous decision. The judges scored the bout 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108 in favor of Munguia, who retained his title. The undercard was part of a stacked PBC Pay-Per-View lineup that celebrated Cinco de Mayo weekend, a date historically dominated by Canelo Álvarez. Benavidez's performance, however, stole the show. His hand speed, which carried over from lower weight classes, posed significant problems for Ramirez from the opening bell. By the end of the fight, Benavidez had landed a higher volume of punches, mixing hooks, uppercuts, and straight shots with devastating effect.

What's Next for 'El Monstruo'?

With his victory, Benavidez now holds the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles in addition to the WBC light heavyweight championship. He has expressed a desire to unify the cruiserweight division and potentially face Opetaia, but promotional hurdles remain. Benavidez also left the door open for a showdown with Canelo, though that fight appears unlikely given the weight difference and Canelo's own plans. For now, Benavidez has cemented his status as one of boxing's most exciting fighters. His ability to move up in weight and dominate has drawn comparisons to all-time greats, and at 29 years old, he has plenty of time to add to his legacy. The boxing world will be watching to see who dares step into the ring with 'El Monstruo' next.

The bottom line

• David Benavidez became a three-division world champion by stopping Gilberto Ramirez in the sixth round.
• He is the only boxer in history to hold titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight.
• Benavidez called out Canelo Álvarez and Jai Opetaia, but promotional politics may hinder those fights.
• The fight was part of a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Cinco de Mayo weekend, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.
• Benavidez's hand speed and power carried over to cruiserweight, overwhelming the former champion.
• Ramirez suffered his second career loss, with his right eye swelling shut before the stoppage.