"El Monstro" stakes his claim as the world's best fighter with a breathtaking display to become unified Cruiserweight World Champion on a stacked PBC Cinco de Mayo weekend card.
Cinco de Mayo weekend, the Super Bowl of boxing, now belongs to newly-crowned unified WBA, WBO Cruiserweight World Champion, David “El Monstro” Benavidez.
In front of a raucous crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Benavidez dropped Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez twice, the second of which put him away at 2:59 of the sixth round in the main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on Prime Video Saturday night.
Now a three-division world champion – and still the WBC titleholder at light heavyweight -- Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) was simply splendid against a respected two-division world champion. After a strong first round where Benavidez flashed his trademark blinding combinations, he switched stances in the second and was no less effective. When Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) led, he was countered. When he didn’t, Benavidez punished him with stiff jabs. And on the occasions when Ramirez pushed Benavidez toward the ropes, “El Monstro” slipped, rolled and parried the incoming.
"I knew I wasn't going to be able to overpower him because it was my first time coming up to 200lbs,” said Benavidez. “So, I knew I had to use the gifts that God gave me: speed, power, movement, punch selection and IQ. That's exactly what I did.”
The one-sided action continued in the fourth. With seconds left in the stanza, another blistering combination forced Ramirez to take a knee. He slowly beat the count and was saved a bell that rang soon as action resumed.
Ramirez showed gumption in the fifth, fighting back. Benavidez was on another plane. Another series of flurries hurt Ramirez again in the sixth. This time, Benavidez closed the show, pounding away until Ramirez succumbed to the canvas a second time, this time for the full 10-count.
Benavidez, who moved up an astounding 25 pounds to challenge Ramirez, has now staked his claim as not only arguably the world’s best fighter, but a sure-fire future Hall of Famer.
"I just wanted to give [Ramirez] thanks for the opportunity,” said Benavidez. “I love Zurdo Ramirez. You know, we came up together. We came up sparring together. I got him ready for his world championship fights. He got me ready for my world championship fights. So, I just want to say I love Zurdo Ramirez, but, you know, it is what it is in here. There’s only one Monster.”
So, what is next for Benavidez? "I just want to give the fans what they want to see. I see Canelo is in the building. Let me just ask the fans this. Do you guys want to see Canelo versus David Benavidez? Enough said. That means we can’t leave that fight on the table. I have respect for Canelo. He’s a great champion. I’m a great champion, too. Let's do it.
"I'm still champion at 175. I’m champion at 175 and 200. So, if they want to come get it at 175, let’s get it at 175. Bivol is the number one on my hit list. He's a great competitor, great champion, but I'm a good champion, too. I just want to test myself every single fight.
"I don't care who it is, man. Nobody can fuck with me.”
Jaime Munguia is world champion once again. In a tremendous co-main event, Munguia (46-2, 35 KOs) displayed his versatility, overcoming a spirited effort from incumbent Armando “Toro” Resendiz (16-3, 11 KOs) to capture the WBA Super Middleweight World Title via 12-round unanimous decision.
“I felt excellent throughout the fight. I listened to my corner and that turned into great results for us,” said Munguia.
“Everything went exactly as we had it contemplated before the fight. I wanted to KO him, but everything was outstanding.”
Resendiz was the aggressor for much of the fight, enjoying pockets of success while Munguia found his footing. Once Munguia did, he comfortably glided around the ring, using footwork to keep the undaunted Resendiz off-balance and punishing him with hard shots at range.
Munguia’s speed, power and creative combinations forced Resendiz to be more selective with his own punches. The fight heated up again in the 12th, with both guys letting their hands go. First, it was Munguia hurting Resendiz with a right hand and then Resendiz returning the favor moments later as he landed multiple rights that forced Munguia toward the ropes. The Resendiz rally was thwarted by the final bell. Final scored read 120-108, 119-109 and 117-111.
“I had Resendiz against the ropes. I was on the verge of knocking him down in that last round. We tried our best to knock him out, but it wasn’t meant to be and the win was ours,” said Munguia.
“It feels great to have this championship belt with me, but this is just the beginning. I’m excited for what comes next. We are ready for big challenges and great fights."
PPV action also saw Oscar Duarte (31-2-1, 23 KOs) winning a hotly contested 12-round split decision over Angel Fierro in a super lightweight battle.
Fierro (23-5-2, 18 KOs) missed the 140-pound weight limit by 3.4 pounds on Friday yet Duarte opted to fight him anyway. The decision nearly proved to be a costly one in this back-and-forth war.
"First of all, I want to thank everybody for being here and everybody who supported me. And listen, I won this fight and I made weight. He lost and he didn't make weight,” said Duarte.
"This was a good fight. Fierro is a great fighter. I respect him, but I won this fight. I went forward, pressed the action, and landed the best shots in a competitive fight. I always had the confidence that I was going to win. The fans enjoyed the fight, and that motivates me even more to give them another war next time.”
Duarte pressing forward in the early going, cutting off the ring and investing heavily to the body, while Fierro relied on movement, counters, and sharp combinations.
The momentum began to shift in the sixth, when Fierro stunned Duarte with a left hook to the chin. Duarte occasionally countered with heavy shots, but Fierro was landing the cleaner blows in most sequences and utilizing effective footwork. The late swings in momentum kept the outcome uncertain, as both fighters closed strong. One judge scored it 116-112 for Fierro with the other two submitting cards of 116-112 and 115-113 in favor of Duarte.
“The crowd made itself heard and saw me win,” said Fierro. “I believe the fight was mine, but I’m also happy with the support from the crowd and for putting on a show.
“I showed the people a different Tashiro—one with a real hunger to win. The people saw it; the judges didn’t. I want a rematch. I’ll be back in the gym next week, more focused than ever, to push forward with my team.”
In a thrilling battle between unbeaten super bantamweights, Jose “Tito” Sanchez (16-0, 10 KOs) left with his “0” intact by knocking out Jorge Chavez (15-1-1, 8 KOs) at 2:30 of the 10th round. It was a brilliant display by Sanchez, who wouldn’t be denied against a Chavez many had pegged as a future champion.
“I’m so excited,” Sanchez said afterward. “I showed everyone what I was capable of on Cinco de Mayo weekend with the Mexican style. I hope to get a title shot eventually.”
The momentum oscillated with each stanza, as Chavez refused to take a backward step. That ultimately was his undoing, with Sanchez picking him apart from the outside and stepping in to land hard shots to the head and body.
In the 10th, Sanchez dropped Chavez twice to ultimately put him away. At the time of the stoppage, Sanchez was up 86-85 on two cards with a third judge having it 86-85 for Chavez.
“I’m disappointed, but I’m glad the crowd enjoyed the fight,” said Chavez. “At the end of the day, we are Mexicans and we gave it everything we had. I feel like it was everybody’s night, but mine.
“The best man won today. No excuses. Back to the drawing board and I'll try to do better next time.”
“Not much was different than when we fought as amateurs. We displayed more power, and I had a high boxing IQ, picking my shots.
“I hope to get a title shot, eventually."
Argentina’s Ismael Flores (18-1-1, 12 KOs) scored a major upset in the pay-per-view opener, winning a dominant 10-round unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92 twice) over the previously unbeaten Isaac Lucero. Flores led the action from the opening bell, both outboxing and out brawling Lucero (18-1, 14 KOs).
“This is beautiful. I have to thank God for all of this, because I wouldn’t have fought with so much faith without him,” said Flores.
“I was given two weeks’ notice for this fight, but it didn’t matter. This was about many years of training hard, of prayer and sleepless nights. This is the fruit of that labor.”
Flores turned the heat up in the eighth round, wobbling Lucero with a right hand. Lucero never quit trying but came up short on this night.
“We knew Lucero just liked to come forward, very one-dimensional,” said Flores. “So, I focused on being patient and on my sideways movement.
My rival was the better man tonight. He came to steal the night and came with everything,” Lucero acknowledged.
“I have no excuses for tonight. I had a great preparation and I just fell short. The better man won. I am going to jump back into the gym, and we will see what happens next.”
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Prior to the pay-per-view, a three-fight FIRST ON PRIME lineup streamed live and for free on Prime Video. In the main event, rising super middleweight Daniel Blancas (15-0, 7 KOs) remained undefeated with a one-sided, 10-round unanimous decision (100-90 and 99-91 twice), over Raul Salomon (16-4-1, 14 KOs).
Plus, 17-year-old super lightweight phenom Dylan Capetillo improved to 2-0 (1 KO) with a four-round unanimous decision (39-37 x3) over James Pierce and in the opening bout of the streaming presentation, Juan Carillo (15-0, 11 KOs) knocked out Marlon Delgado (8-1, 6 KOs) at 2:59 of the fourth round.
For a closer look at Benavidez vs Zurdo, check out our fight night page.
