David Benavidez vs. Zurdo Ramirez 'fight of the year' set for May

It has long been discussed, but on a May 2 fight between David Benavidez and Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez is now official.

The men will square off at the T-Mobile Arena as Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) is set to move up a division to challenge Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs), the WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion. It's a bout that has been discussed since 2024, with Ramirez stating last year that a potential clash between the two friends would be a classic.

"We've had amazing sparring sessions together that were pay per view worthy on its own," Ramirez told the Ring last March. "We can have a great fight against each other. It would be a fight of the year, like Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Juan Manuel Marquez – two Mexicans just throwing down with a lot of exciting punches.

“If he 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.”

Benavidez is the current WBA light heavyweight champion and has previously held the WBC super middleweight title, which means he would become a three-division champion should he best Ramirez. The 29-year-old was last in action in November, when he stopped Anthony Yarde in the seventh rounnd to retain his title.

Meanwhile, Ramirez's last fight was in June 2025, when he earned a unanimous decision victory over Yuniel Dorticos to remain a unified cruiserweight champ.

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