David Benavidez might be the brand new face of Mexican boxing.
On Saturday evening, Benavidez (32-0) confronted Gilberto “Zurdo” Rodriguez (48-2) for the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles. This was Benavidez’s first battle at cruiserweight, and it was a massively essential battle as he headlined this weekend’s Cinco de Mayo battle, and “The Mexican Monster” made essentially the most of this massive second, crushing Zurdo on his method to a sixth-round knockout.
Benavidez weighed effectively beneath the 200-pound cruiserweight restrict for this bout and regarded noticeably smaller than Zurdo at the beginning of the bout, however that mattered little as soon as the bell rang. Ramirez had no reply to Benavidez’s blistering hand pace. Benavidez attacked Zurdo with a mix of eight or extra lightning punches on a number of events. Benavidez’s energy reached the cruiserweight division, knocking Zurdo unconscious a number of instances.
Issues appeared to be over within the fourth spherical, however Benavidez landed some heavy pictures on Ramirez, forcing the champion to take a knee with seconds left within the spherical. Zurdo proved his championship mettle by outscoring the depend and held his personal with an extra-base hit in opposition to Benavidez within the fifth inning. Nevertheless, it was solely a brief reprieve, and within the sixth Benavidez continued to slash, and close to the tip of the spherical, one other lightning mixture and a few heavy hooks broken Zurdo’s already damaged proper eye and appeared to trigger it to swell considerably. Zurdo took a knee and waved him off because the referee approached, giving Benavidez the victory.
Ramirez went to the hospital instantly after the match.
In the meantime, Benavidez celebrated his massive win by calling out Canelo Alvarez once more, a battle he had lengthy averted. Benavidez has been chasing a battle with Canelo, the longtime face of Mexican boxing, for years, nevertheless it by no means materialized. Alvarez was at ringside for Saturday’s bout to assist his pal Jaime Munguia, who received within the co-main occasion, whereas Benavidez grabbed the prospect to get one other shot at a match that followers have needed for years.
“I simply wish to give the followers what they wish to see,” Benavidez mentioned within the post-game interview. “I noticed Canelo within the constructing. I am going to simply ask the followers this: Do you guys wish to see Canelo vs. David Benavidez? (crowd cheers) Sufficient is sufficient. We will not go away that battle on the desk. I respect Canelo, a fantastic champion, however I am a fantastic champion too. Let’s do it!…
“I am nonetheless the champion at 175. I am nonetheless the champion at 200 and I am nonetheless the champion at 175. So in the event that they wish to come take it at 175, let’s take it at 175!”
See the total Benavidez vs. Zurdo outcomes under.
David Benavidez def. Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez KO — 2:59, Spherical 6
Jaime Munguia def. Armando Resendiz (unanimous choice) (117-111, 119-109, 120-108)
Oscar Duarte def. Angel Fierro (break up choice) (115-113, 112-116, 116-112)
Tito Sanchez def. Jorge Chavez TKO Victory — 2:30, Spherical 10
Ismael Flores def. Isaac Lucero by unanimous choice (98-92, 98-92, 99-91)
Daniel Blancas def. Raul Soloman unanimous choice (99-91, 99-1, 100-90)
Dylan Capetillo def. James Pierce unanimous choice (39-37 x3)
Juan Carrillo def. Marlon Delgado KO (physique shot) — 2:59, spherical 4.
