Unified cruiserweight champ Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez will meet WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez on May 2nd, and the fighters started the promotion for the PPV battle this past weekend.
Undefeated two-division world champion and Mexican superstar David “El Monstro” Benavidez and Mexico’s first cruiserweight world champion, unified WBA and WBO titleholder Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez came face to face this past Saturday at a press conference to officially announce their highly anticipated clash in May. The blockbuster title fight will be a PBC Pay-Per-View through Prime Video during "Cinco de Mayo Weekend" in Las Vegas, taking place Saturday, May 2nd at T-Mobile Arena.
Benavidez vs. Ramirez marks a historic "Mexico vs. Mexico" showdown on one of boxing’s biggest stages, as the two unbeatens clash in one of the most prominent bouts on the schedule for 2026..
The two elite champions bring a staggering combined record of 79 victories against just one defeat, including 55 knockouts.
Tensions were evident as both fighters referenced their intense history of sparring sessions from years past, each insisting that those gym battles were only a preview of what we'll see in Vegas.
Benavidez, the WBC light heavyweight champ, comes in unbeaten at 31-0, 25 KOs and off a November demolition of Britain's Anthony Yarde by 7th round TKO.
He said Saturday,
“This is something I’ve been working toward for a long time. We’ve had so many great sparring sessions and I told Zurdo then, we’ll have to do this on pay-per-view one day. Now we’re going for two titles on May 2 and I’m very grateful.
“I feel like I’m on the cusp of being the face of boxing. And if Zurdo wins, his stock goes up. There’s greatness on the other side of that tunnel for both of us. So we’re gonna come extremely prepared.
“For the whole history of Cinco de Mayo fights, it’s been tremendous fighters like Oscar and Chavez. Not just great fights, but wars. Because they never took easy fights. That’s what we’re doing. We’re two Mexican warriors going for the title.
“I want to make my own lane and achieve greatness.”
It will be his first fight at cruiserweight after winning world titles at 168 lb. and 175 lb.
As for Ramirez, he enters the bout having rehabbed shoulder surgery and interestingly, isn't taking a "light" fight before facing the hard punching Benavidez on his comeback.
Zurdo is 48-1, 30 KOs, and was last in the ring beating Cuban Yuniel Dorticos by decision in June in Anaheim, CA. He said in the kickoff presser,
"I know Team Benavidez, they actually helped me a lot for my first world title fight. We’re gonna make this an exciting fight. At the end of the day, the titles are staying with Zurdo.
“I knew this would happen eventually. This is a dream come true. Right now is the right moment at 200 pounds. We’re going to feel comfortable and be at our best. He’s the monster. He’s different. He used to beat up a lot of sparring partners. Now we’re here, we’re two warriors and we’re making history.
“I just want to be the best. I want to fight the best and he’s one of the best. I just want to give the fans who love this sport the best fights.”
Both fighters are former super middleweight champions and the winner in May becomes the premier name in the division.