David Benavidez eyeing move to cruiserweight for Zurdo Ramirez fight

David Benavidez is yet again looking to move up in weight to fight the unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. 

Benavidez recently had his WBC interim title upgraded to full champion status after Dmitry Bivol vacated the belt in April in favour of a trilogy fight with his light-heavyweight, Artur Beterbiev, delaying his hopes of becoming undisputed.

The former super-middleweight champion claimed the interim light heavyweight title after outpointing Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June last year and has since defended it against the young Cuban David Morrell.

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Having already moved up from super middleweight after a fight with the undisputed champion, Canelo Alvarez, was off the cards, Benavidez and his team are already setting their sights on a new weight division after they defend his new WBC strap at 175lbs. 

Benavidez’s father, Jose Benavidez Sr, revealed their plan to The Main Event, which included fights with other top light heavyweights like Callum Smith and Anthony Yarde, before moving up to take on Ramirez.

Benavidez Sr said: “We are working very hard to get him a fight in September/October. We are looking at Anthony Yarde, Callum Smith and a big possibility of fighting [Gilberto] Zurdo Ramirez also.”

He also said: “We want to defend the title maybe two or three times and then fight Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. “That’s the fight David wants. He’s a great fighter, a scary fighter.”

Golden Boy Promotions

Ramirez is a two-weight world champion who won his first world title at super middleweight and hit a roadblock in Dmitry Bivol at 175lbs before moving to cruiserweight - beating Chris Billam-Smith to claim the WBO and WBA titles. 

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The Mexican is now scheduled to defend his newly acquired titles against Yuniel Dorticos on the Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chávez Jr undercard later this month and is eyeing up a unification bout with Jai Opetaia.

Ramirez also had the opportunity to address a potential fight between himself and Benavidez, speaking to the ring, he said he was open to this possibility if the money was right, even though the pair are friends. 

Ramirez said to The Ring: ““If he [Benavidez] wants to move up to cruiserweight, we can make the fight happen. For me, I don't have a problem fighting a Mexican. I can fight anyone. I'm a fighter. That's what I do – fight.”

 

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