David Benavidez simply too fast for Zurdo in their big fight at the weekend in Las Vegas. A look at why and some punch numbers.
He won by knockout in round six but his speed was too much for Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez — he couldn’t hack it.
Despite Benavidez winging some of his punches as wide shots, there was enough speed on them to bust up Ramirez and close the show early.
Here’s why.
- Speed edge early: Benavidez beat Zurdo to the punch from round 1.
- Punches landed: 151 of 327 total, most ever on Ramirez.
- Power accuracy: 137 of 241 power shots landed, 57% connect rate.
- Round 6 burst: Landed 25 of 43 power punches in the final round.
- Rapid combos: Eight-punch flurries overwhelmed Zurdo’s defense.
- First knockdown: Dropped him in round 4 with a right hand + flurry.
- Fight ender: Second knockdown in round 6 forced the TKO.
- Couldn’t keep up: Zurdo “could not live with The Red Flag’s hand speed.”
- Eye damage: Speed and volume swelled Zurdo’s right eye shut.
- Result: 6th-round TKO win for WBA & WBO cruiserweight titles.
Speed can be effective when it lands and it landed regularly on the target for a Ramirez who was just too slow.
Ramirez too slow concerns were proved right before the fight.
The Mexican Monster David Benavidez was just very fast in there all the way up at cruiserweight against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
Again, people expressed concern at Ramirez being too slow before the fight but the difference in speed was very apparent right from the get go in the contest.
You got the sense that Benavidez saw this in there himself straight away and accordingly forced the pace early to capitalize on the advantage, which he did.
Some of his punches were not short but there was enough speed on them, too much for Ramirez, to overwhelm Ramirez with fast combinations that looked to have his speed similar to how he is at light-heavyweight.
But with a little bit more power on them all the way up at cruiserweight.
Benavidez has always been known for a good work rate but he really threw the kitchen sink at Zurdo in there and pushed a pace on him he couldn’t live with and was very accurate as well (per the numbers above).
Busting up the face of his Mexican counterpart to deliver a round six knockout by the time of stoppage.
Leaving Ramirez in no position to continue fighting.
He almost looked like Joe Calzaghe did years ago throwing all the combinations as fast as he did and with the work rate he did in there at the weekend.
Look, not that fast, but it wasn’t far off in terms of the output of punches at least.
He simply threw and landed a heck of a lot of punches in there in very fast fashion and it took Ramirez by surprise.
Maybe not the punching power of him but more the speed and accumulation of shots in there.
A fitting end to a solid win for him the knockout and a good way to end the Cinco De Mayo 2026 boxing weekend in Las Vegas.
A stoppage on what was a solid card but still not worth the 80 bucks price point in the US.
No matter how good a fight is and how good a card is, that price point will not ever return to working again in professional boxing in the United States.
Well done to Benavidez on the win.
Let’s see what happens with him next.
