David Benavidez just proved to the world that monsters really do exist.
“The Monster” Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) captured the WBA and WBO unified cruiserweight titles with a one-sided, sixth-round destruction of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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By doing so, Benavidez, Uncrowned’s No. 7 pound-for-pound boxer before the fight, became a three-division world champion, and the only champion in boxing history to hold world titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight.
Benavidez overwhelmed Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) with a flurry of shots at the end of Round 4 for the first knockdown. The second knockdown, which came in the concluding moments of Round 6, also arrived courtesy of a combination — except this time, “Zurdo” had no intention of beating the 10-count.
“I just want to give the fans what they want to see,” Benavidez said after his win. “I saw ‘Canelo’ [Saul Alvarez] in the building. Let me just ask the fans this: Do you guys want to see ‘Canelo’ vs. David Benavidez?”
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Alvarez’s name was heavily booed earlier on the broadcast during the Cinco de Mayo weekend event — a weekend historically dominated by “Canelo” himself. When Benavidez mentioned a potential fight between him and the Mexican superstar, the Las Vegas crowd was receptive to the idea. It is, however, highly unlikely that Benavidez and “Canelo” ever share the ring, especially at this point in their respective careers.
On Saturday, Benavidez was flawless in his beatdown of Ramirez. The WBC light heavyweight champion’s hand speed clearly carried over in the 25-pound jump up in weight to 175 pounds, and it posed significant problems for Ramirez early in the fight.
Benavidez forced the now-former champion backward with rights down the middle in the opening frame. Much of Round 2 was fought at close range, with “The Monster” being driven back by Ramirez, opening up the left hook for Benavidez, which landed with frequency in that session.
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Although Ramirez wasn’t deterred from moving forward by Benavidez’s accuracy and volume of shots, they were clearly affecting him.
“Zurdo” appeared to be having a good round in the fourth. His pressure and front-foot approach were leading to some success, but in the final few seconds of the round, he was backed up by a right and then seconds later forced to take a knee after a blistering combination connected.
In Round 6, it became clear that Ramirez was on borrowed time, as his right eye was on the verge of being completely shut. He increased the intensity of his work, but did so to no avail as Benavidez continued to beat up “Zurdo.” It was a pair of combinations in the final few seconds of the sixth that made Ramirez stagger backward, take a knee, and decide that he wanted no more.
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Check out complete Benavidez vs. Zurdo results and highlights below, as well as Uncrowned’s play-by-play of Saturday’s entire main card.
Main card
WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles: David Benavidez def. Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez via sixth-round KO | Watch video
Super lightweight: Oscar Duarte def. Angel Fierro via split decision (115-113, 112-116, 116-112)
Super bantamweight: Tito Sanchez def. Jorge Chavez via 10th-round TKO | Watch video
Super welterweight: Ismael Flores def. Isaac Lucero via unanimous decision (98-92, 98-92, 99-91)
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Super middleweight: Daniel Blancas def. Raul Salomon via unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 100-90)
Lightweight: Dylan Capetillo def. James William Pierce III via unanimous decision (39-37, 39-37, 39-37)
Light heavyweight: Juan Carrillo def. Marlo Delgado via fourth-round KO | Watch video
Live coverage is over94 updates
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 10:09 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 10:05 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Benavidez lands on the guard of Ramirez with two rights in the first minute.
Terrific left hook on the inside for Benavidez. “Zurdo” lets some punches go on the inside. Exchanges on the inside between the two men.
Ramirez is not afraid of meeting Benavidez head-on. Benavidez is beating him up, though, at times with power shots. Ramirez’s right eye is almost closed.
Combination from Benavidez. Another combination. Down goes Ramirez for a second time, and he will sit out the count!
David Benavidez, by stoppage, is a three-division world champion.
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 10:00 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Benavidez has dominated this fight so far and could score a finish.
They exchange combinations on the inside. Benavidez lifts up the chin with uppercuts from both hands. Ramirez continues to come forward and try to bully Benavidez.
Ramirez lands on the body. A three-piece upstairs as well. But it is dwarfed by a Benavidez combination that is clearly more powerful.
Nice uppercut from Ramirez in the final minute. Zurdo walks into a left. Benavidez goes wide with his right hand. Zurdo with some success in the final few seconds.
10-9 Benavidez, 50-44 Benavidez
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:55 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Slow first minute to the fourth. Both men are cautious of letting big shots go.
Left connects for Zurdo. Benavidez breaks the guard with a backhand. They trade lefts, and Zurdo follows with a left afterward.
Ramirez is pouring the pressure on Benavidez, but he is eating combinations and power shots on the inside.
A hard right-hand backs Ramirez onto the ropes. Benavidez FLOORS Ramirez in the closing seconds with a combination.
10-8 Benavidez, 40-35 Benavidez
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:51 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Left hook connects at the one-minute mark for Benavidez. Another hook has Zurdo off balance. Benavidez shoe-shines with lefts. Ramirez catches Benavidez in an exchange. Now, they trade lefts. Ramirez will be non-stop with his pressure in this fight. A pair of combinations score for Benavidez in the final minute. Ramirez isn’t deterred, though, and he forces the challenger onto the ropes.
10-9 Benavidez, 30-27 Benavidez
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:46 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Ramirez lands a couple of shots to the body but eats a jab from the faster Benavidez. Benavidez fires downstairs.
Body shot from Benavidez, Ramirez responds with a left. Ramirez is forcing Benavidez backward and is trying to be the pressure fighter. Zurdo lands downstairs. Benavidez has had more success in this round thus far, though, with shots to the head. And a short left hook to the chin was the perfect example of that. Another hook finds the target. And so does a third. Benavidez goes to the body and finishes the round with a combination.
10-9 Benavidez, 20-18 Benavidez
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:42 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Nice right-hand down the middle from Benavidez early in the second minute.
Benavidez is throwing and scoring with his jab. Terrific right from Benavidez forces Zurdo back. And a left hook on the inside connected.
Right hook finds the target for Ramirez. Benavidez scores with a two-piece on the inside. Zurdo returns fire. And Benavidez shoe-shines with a flurry to end the frame.
10-9 Benavidez
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:36 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:34 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:31 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:28 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
After winning WBC titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight, Benavidez jumps up 25 pounds to cruiserweight in a quest to become a three-division champion.
Since falling short against Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight in 2022, Ramirez has enjoyed a strong run at cruiserweight, which has included comfortable decision wins over Chris Billam-Smith, Arsen Goulamirian and Yuniel Dorticos. “Zurdo” will be looking to certify his position as the No. 1 cruiserweight in the world with a win over Benavidez.
Light heavyweight to cruiserweight is no ordinary jump. Outside of the move from cruiserweight to heavyweight, 175 pounds to 200 pounds is the biggest ascendancy in weight in the sport, and one that can be difficult to do successfully. Ramirez managed to impress in his maiden title fight at cruiserweight, but only after bridging the gap in a 193-pound catchweight contest against Joe Smith Jr. Benavidez’s lack of a similar kind of fight to acclimate to carrying the extra weight will surely work in Ramirez’s favor on Saturday.
Benavidez was last in action in November, when he stopped Anthony Yarde in Round 7. Cruiserweight champ Ramirez hasn’t fought in 10 months due to a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery.
Benavidez is known for his relentless pressure, volume and combination punching. But with the added weight, will the punches be as fast and effective, and can he produce the same kind of output? Ramirez has respectable power at cruiserweight and has carried over his speed from light heavyweight. He has shown he can come through in a brawl, landing the cleaner, harder shots, but “Zurdo” has never beaten a fighter as good as Benavidez.
It wouldn’t be wrong to question whether Benavidez’s power does carry over in this matchup, particularly because when Benavidez moved up to 175 pounds against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, his performance wasn’t overly impressive, and Ramirez is known for having a sturdy chin.
Benavidez’s gas tank at the higher weight will also be a key factor Saturday.
Perhaps Ramirez’s strongest advantage in this matchup is his footwork. Benavidez’s feet aren’t particularly impressive, and David Morrell has already shown how a clever southpaw can have success against Benavidez. “Zurdo’s” ability to keep moving and keep Benavidez thinking and turning — and not allowing him to plant his feet — could be pivotal.
Benavidez has plenty of holes in his game defensively. Ramirez will have the opportunity to catch Benavidez coming in, but it is key that Ramirez doesn’t get too greedy. He needs to settle for a few scoring shots and not risk getting into a war with a brawler.
I think the experience of Ramirez at cruiserweight, alongside his superior footwork, will pose plenty of problems for Benavidez and help him edge a hard-fought decision.
Pick: Ramirez
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:25 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:23 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez defends his WBA and WBO unified cruiserweight titles against David Benavidez in a battle of two-division champions at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 01: David Benavidez (L) and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (R) from Mexico face off prior to their fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 01, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images)
(Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy via Getty Images)Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:18 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Jaime Munguia defeats Armando Resendiz by wide unanimous decision (117-111, 119-109, 120-108) to win the WBA super middleweight title.
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:13 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Three minutes to go. Resendiz surely needs a knockout.
Munguia walks the champion onto a pair of left hooks upstairs. And now a right breaks the guard. Resendiz is letting his hands go, but it is not posing any problems for Munguia. When Munguia fires a combination, you can reel off the clean punches. Great showing from Munguia. He is piecing Resendiz up in the final round. Resendiz is ROCKED by a left hook. More power shots are going in. What a performance! Munguia is throwing the kitchen sink at Resendiz.
10-9 Munguia. Final score: 119-109 Munguia
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:07 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s face appears on the big screen as he begins to speak about the fight — and boos start to rain down from the T-Mobile crowd.
Munguia dominated another stanza in the eleventh. Resendiz isn’t letting his hands go because he is wary of Munguia’s speed and knows that he will get countered if he does. The challenger is finding it too easy to land power shots on Resendiz’s chin and his notorious left hook to the body.
10-9 Munguia, 99-91 Munguia
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 9:03 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Resendiz was told in the corner that he is well behind and needs to try to land big rights in the final four frames.
Terrific body shot from the challenger. Resendiz continued to get hammered by lefts downstairs. Combination upstairs from Munguia now. Resendiz isn’t seeing these shots coming. The speed is too much for him.
Munguia drives Resendiz back with a barrage of right hands and left hooks. Resendiz is getting totally outclassed. Big right from Munguia to end the ninth.
10-9 Munguia, 89-82 Munguia
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 8:58 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Munguia forces Resendiz back early in the second minute with a left hook.
A right uppercut to the chin and left hook to the body lands, followed by a right upstairs.
Munguia is making Resendiz walk forward and is walking him onto shots. He is letting his hands go at the end of the second minute and to open the final minute. This is one-sided now.
10-9 Munguia, 79-73 Munguia
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 8:50 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
The right uppercut to the chin and left hook to the body two-punch combination is having a ton of success for Munguia in this fight, and it worked again in the first minute of the sixth.
Resendiz backs Munguia onto the ropes and tries to let his hands go. However, Munguia manages to make him miss and returns with a combination.
Resendiz lifts Munguia’s chin with a half dozen uppercuts. A combination from Munguia in the final minute. And Munguia’s favorite two-punch attack connects again.
10-9 Munguia, 59-55 Munguia
Sat, May 2, 2026 at 8:46 PM PDT
Darshan Desai
Fans were booing as Munguia started to circle the ring. He can have success moving and fighting at long range, but it is not what fight fans want to see.
A right Uppercut, left hook to the body combination finds the target for the challenger, and Munguia follows up with an overhand right seconds later.
Munguia lands another body shot in the final 20 seconds.
10-9 Munguia, 49-46 Munguia