Benavidez Stops Ramirez in Vegas to Claim WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Crowns
Benavidez Stops Ramirez in Vegas to Claim WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Crowns
Benavidez lassos a dramatic sixth-round KO vs Ramirez in Las Vegas, becoming a three-weight world champion and adding the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.
David Benavidez dismantled Gilberto Ramirez on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, stopping the Mexican with a stunning combination to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles. The 29-year-old unbeaten fighter moved to 32-0 with 26 KOs and became a three-weight world champion, adding to his titles at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight.
Ramirez had moments early, but Benavidez’s rapid flurries and power shots flowed with surgical precision. A left hook and follow-up power shots helped drop Ramirez in the fourth, setting the tone for a dramatic night. The Mexican challenger showed grit, surviving the bell and pressing on, but the real turning point came late in the sixth. Benavidez stepped off the ropes, dug a right hook to the body, and unleashed an eight-punch, rapid-fire sequence that froze Ramirez. A final left hook and rights sealed the deal as Ramirez sank to a knee with his eye badly damaged. The referee’s count reached eight before the fight was over.
In the wake of the stoppage, Benavidez restrained himself from unnecessary blows, celebrating in his corner as Ramirez shook his head at the count. Ramirez, now 48-2 with 30 KOs, tasted defeat for just the second time, his earlier loss in 2022 to Dmitry Bivol serving as a reminder of the level he faced. The victory marks a landmark achievement for Benavidez, who now stands as a three-division world champion and a rising icon in the sport.
The win solidifies Benavidez’s place among boxing’s elite as he steps forward in the 2020s, with fans already speculating about future opponents and potential mega-showdowns. In Las Vegas, the atmosphere suggested a changing of the guard, as a new multi-division champion etched his name into boxing history.
