This week should see a David Benavidez stress free weight cut for the Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez fight which we think can be an advantage. Here’s why.
Usually in his super-middleweight days making the weight at 168 pounds was always an issue for Benavidez. That went away a bit at 175 pounds but now up at cruiserweight he looks like he can really just focus on his boxing and strength and conditioning.
Without having to be concerned about making weight anymore.
That should give him more energy, more cardio, more powerful punches and if he brought the weight up with him right, even more explosiveness.
He won’t be as fast as he was at super-middleweight or light-heavyweight but he could be something similar when he fights Gilberto Ramirez who some had expressed speed concerns about before.
Despite ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez being a cruiserweight world champion some fans mentioned they think he was too slow at the weight.
This won’t be an issue for Benavidez against him who should in theory a couple of advantages over Ramirez.
Namely his gas tank and his speed. His work rate if he can push a fast pace on Ramirez from round one could be pivotal as the rounds go on if the fight goes the distance.
Does Benavidez have the power to actually knock out Ramirez all the way up at cruiserweight?
We’re not entirely sure about that. Maybe not.
But if he pushes a pace on him from round one that he cannot hack over the duration of the twelve championship rounds, and lands regularly to body and head from round one right the way through, he could hurt him a bit.
We think this fight has going the distance written all over it however with the edge being to Benavidez but Ramirez is the champion.
History in professional boxing tells you the challenger must take the title from the champion and just scraping a close decision for Benavidez would not be enough.
Particularly if he wants to keep alive big fight aspirations with the likes of Dmitry Bivol, the 175 pounds (light-heavyweight) titlist, he must be impressive in Las Vegas with ‘Zurdo’.
The Benavidez stress free weight cut on fight week should only help him not hinder him going into the fight overall.
Ahead of the fight there has been some Ramirez speed concerns but let’s see how he gets on in tonight’s boxing.
