Gilberto Ramirez vs David Benavidez

This is one of the biggest fights of the year for me. I actually see this as a 50/50 fight, unlike most experts. There’s always that bit of jeopardy when somebody jumps a weight division and really pushes their abilities to their limits. Moving from 175 lb to 200 lb is a huge leap. And when you consider that David Benavidez stopped Demetrius Andrade in six rounds in November 2023 at the 169 lb limit, then moved up and had three high-calibre light heavyweight fights, and now finds himself fighting Gilberto Ramirez in a weight division 32 lb above that in which he fought Andrade. That has all happened in two years and five months. But then let's remember that Ramirez also had a reign as a super middleweight world champion (WBO) before moving up to light heavyweight, where he suffered his only career defeat when he challenged Dimitri Bivol in Abu Dhabi. The 34-year-old ‘Zurdo’ now faces another elite opponent in Benavidez, but with all the physical advantages in his favour. Ramirez is talented as well. He has learnt his trade through three separate weight divisions and looks to have grown completely into his 200 lb cruiserweight frame. So the danger here is that Benavidez has rushed into a third weight division, where his opponent is more rounded, more experienced, and, naturally, the bigger man. The questions that need to be answered are:
- Can Benavidez keep that extraordinary work rate up throughout 12 rounds against a man substantially bigger than himself?
- Can Ramirez find the counterpunching ability that he has shown as a cruiserweight to catch Benavidez on the way in?
- Can Benavidez take the punches of a fully fledged 200-pounder in the same manner he could at super middleweight and light heavyweight?
- Can Ramirez finally beat an elite opponent on the biggest stage to make himself a household name?
My instincts would normally tell me to go for the bigger man who has more experience and seems to be fighting at his peak, but I’ve never found it easy to bet against Benavidez. The man’s will and desire seem insurmountable. For that reason, whilst I see the uphill battles he has in front of him against the Mexican, I still believe he will find his way through to a points decision win