Championship Ascent in Las Vegas
David Benavidez has ascended to cruiserweight championship status, clinching a significant victory against Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout, a high-stakes encounter for Ramirez's unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, saw Benavidez move up in weight to chase a third divisional championship, having previously held belts at super middleweight and light heavyweight.
Benavidez, who entered the fight with an undefeated record of 31-0 with 25 knockouts, secured his latest title against Ramirez, a fighter described as tough, game, and providing action, yet ultimately beatable. This marks a new chapter for Benavidez, who was previously noted for his dominant seventh-round TKO of Anthony Yarde in November.
Undercard Action and Betting Lines
The fight card also featured other notable bouts, including Jose Armando Resendiz defending his WBA super middleweight title against Jaime Munguia. Betting odds from DraftKings Sportsbook indicated Benavidez as a strong favorite (-390) against Isaac Lucero in a previous bout, while the matchup against unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez saw Benavidez listed at +290. The Munguia vs. Resendiz bout had Munguia as a -200 favorite.
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Other results from the undercard included Oscar Duarte defeating Angel Fierro via split decision and Daniel Blancas besting Raul Salomon.
Event Details and Broadcast
The main event, Benavidez vs. Ramirez, was scheduled for approximately 11:15 p.m. ET. The fight night was available for viewing on PBC PPV on Prime Video and also accessible worldwide via DAZN. The event took place on Cinco de Mayo, with the card beginning at 8 p.m. ET.