DAVID BENAVIDEZ OFFICIALLY STARTS CAMP FOR ZURDO RAMIREZ CLASH SET ON MAY 2ND IN LAS VEGAS
David Benavidez moves up to cruiserweight to face Gilberto Ramirez on May 2. See why Benavidez Sr. is confident after sparring.
David Benavidez isn’t wasting any time. Fresh off another big win, he’s already back in the gym, pushing himself for his next challenge—one that could take his reputation as boxing’s most fearless competitor even higher.
His dad and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., says David looks strong in these early training sessions at their family gym in Seattle. And he’ll need to—Benavidez is gearing up for a massive step up, jumping 25 pounds to face Mexico’s unified cruiserweight champ, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, on May 2 in Las Vegas.
This fight, which is set to headline a joint DAZN-Prime Video pay-per-view, comes right after Benavidez’s brutal seventh-round TKO over England’s Anthony Yarde last November in Saudi Arabia. That win pushed Benavidez’s record to 31-0, with 25 knockouts.
Ramirez, on the other hand, is coming off a less impressive unanimous decision over veteran Yuniel Dorticos in June. He’s 48-1, with 30 knockouts, but after that fight, Ramirez had to get right shoulder surgery. He was supposed to defend his title next week against Robin Safar, but Safar broke his hand in a fight back in November. So, that one’s off, Benavidez Sr. explained.
Honestly, they’re relieved. “No fight is easy. You never know what could happen—maybe Ramirez gets hurt,” Benavidez Sr. said. “Now, we don’t have to worry. The fight’s on. Both guys signed.”
There’s even more action that night: BoxingScene’s Jake Donovan reported that May 2 will also see unbeaten, undisputed junior-flyweight champ Naoya Inoue defending his belts against former bantamweight champ Junto Nakatani over in Japan.
For Benavidez, moving up to face a unified (WBA, WBO) cruiserweight champ is a big leap, and plenty of people see him as a future heavyweight titleholder. Benavidez Sr. admits it’s a tougher challenge, but he and David draw confidence from their history. They’ve sparred Ramirez around 100 times, and as one observer put it, “Out of those 100 times, I think Zurdo looked good once.”
That was years ago, back when the Benavidez family helped Ramirez prep for his WBO super-middleweight title win over Arthur Abraham. Even then, Ramirez called David “Monster.”
They’re fired up for this fight.
The real reason for moving up, though? Three-belt light-heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol wants to make his return from back surgery in early spring against IBF mandatory Michael Eifert. “We wanted Bivol, but he gave the belt away,” Benavidez Sr. said. “We’d fight Beterbiev or Opetaia, too, but they weren’t ready. I still think either of those fights could happen.”
If Benavidez wins the unified cruiserweight title, he’s likely sticking at 200 pounds and up. And now that he’s taking over the Cinco de Mayo spotlight in Las Vegas—a stage Canelo Alvarez usually owns—there’s a good chance even bigger fights are coming.
THE TOP FIVE: WHY EMANUEL NAVARRETE CONSIDERS "SUGAR" NúñEZ HIS MOST DANGEROUS THREAT YET
Unification is here: Discover why Emanuel Navarrete respects Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez and how to watch the Glendale title war live.
Emanuel Navarrete didn’t hold back this week. He made it clear that Eduardo “Sugar” Núñez isn’t just another unification opponent. With their WBO-IBF super featherweight title fight coming up Saturday night, Navarrete put Núñez in his personal top five toughest opponents. That’s a big compliment, especially from a guy who’s seen pretty much everything in the ring.
During Matchroom’s “Cards on the Table", Navarrete looked Núñez in the eye and said, “Of the five toughest opponents I’ve faced, without a doubt I consider you among them.” For a three-division champ, words like that feel loaded. Maybe he’s playing mind games. Or maybe he just respects what Núñez brings. Either way, it stands out, especially since people have been questioning Navarrete’s recent performances.
Núñez’s record looks scary: 29 wins, just one loss, and 27 knockouts. But if you look closer, things get complicated. He beat Christopher Díaz in Mexico, but that fight dragged into a twelve-round decision. Núñez couldn’t finish strong; his power faded late, and a lot of folks thought Díaz deserved a closer scorecard.
Even so, Eddie Hearn has been hyping up Núñez all week, framing him as the fresher, sharper champion in this matchup.
Meanwhile, Navarrete comes in with some baggage. His last fight against Charly Suarez got messy. The ref gave Navarrete a technical decision win, but then video replay showed Suarez caused a nasty cut with a left hook, not a head clash. The result switched to a no-contest, and the California commission ordered a rematch that never happened. That whole episode left a bad taste, and it exposed some holes in Navarrete’s defence. Now, people wonder if he can handle a disciplined, hard-hitting counter-puncher like Núñez.
Fighting in Glendale, Arizona, adds its own twist. The Mexican fan base always shows up big here, but with both guys hailing from Mexico, there’s no clear home advantage. This time, it’s all about national pride and those belts. The stakes go way beyond just the physical fight; there’s an emotional edge, too.
When two Mexican fighters square off, there’s this silent expectation: give the fans a war. Nobody wants to be the guy playing it safe or backing up all night, not with that crowd watching. It usually means both men take risks they wouldn’t take against anyone else.
Navarrete’s got the legacy, the belts, and the experience. Núñez is the hungry IBF champ looking to make his mark. In Mexican boxing, these moments when one star tries to take the torch from another tend to become legends. Just think Barrera vs. Morales. That’s the kind of fight on the table here, and both guys know what’s at stake.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: DECODING MANNY PACQUIAO’S 11-YEAR PLAN TO AVENGE HIS 2015 CAREER LOSS
Is the 50-0 streak over? Analyse Pacquiao’s recent form, Mayweather’s return, and the high-tech battle at The Sphere.
On September 19, 2026, Floyd Mayweather, now 49, and Manny Pacquiao, 47, will finally face off again. It’s been 11 years since their first fight, and this time they’re stepping into the ring at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Netflix will stream the event live, making it one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent boxing history.
Back in May 2015, Mayweather walked away from “The Fight of the Century” with a unanimous decision win. Since then, he’s only had one big match, a 2017 win over UFC’s Conor McGregor. Pacquiao, on the other hand, fought most recently in 2025. He went toe-to-toe with Mario Barrios, the WBC World Welterweight champ, and managed a draw. People were amazed to see Pacquiao, at 46, still holding his own.
Now, Pacquiao’s got unfinished business. He’s fired up to rewrite the story in this rematch.
When ESPN’s SportsCenter asked Pacquiao why now, he didn’t hesitate. “I’m still active in boxing, and then he came out of retirement, so he decided to do it again. I’m so excited for the fight.”
Mayweather has an exhibition lined up against Mike Tyson in spring 2026. Pacquiao is fighting Ruslan Provodnikov in April, also an exhibition. But when it comes to Mayweather, Pacquiao’s not interested in another exhibition match. “I don’t want to fight in an exhibition with him. I want to fight a real fight. This is what I’m waiting for.”
Pacquiao’s not making excuses this time around. After the first fight, he talked about a shoulder injury, but that’s in the past. “I learned a lot from that fight way back in 2015. I think we’ve both matured. We know how to handle it now. I hope it won’t be like last time. I want no more excuses, especially about my condition. I’m so excited and ready to fight.”
Even at 47, Pacquiao feels sharp. “Both of us are disciplined fighters. We take care of our bodies. I work out almost every day. Honestly, I still feel young. Nothing’s changed.”
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