LAS VEGAS – When does someone finally push David Benavidez to the brink?
If unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and a 25-pound jump in weight can’t press the unbeaten two-division champion’s ability, the future will seem boundless.
On Tuesday’s episode of ProBoxTV’s “Boxing Scene Today,” analysts and former world champions Chris Algieri and Paulie Malignaggi debated Saturday’s Prime Video/DAZN pay-per-view main event at T-Mobile Arena, dissecting Benavidez’s attempt to duplicate something his former sparring partner has already done by moving from super-middleweight champion to 200lbs titlist.
“‘Zurdo’ being a good cruiserweight leads me to believe it’s true that Benavidez will be comfortable at cruiserweight,” Malignaggi said.
Phoenix’s current WBC light-heavyweight champion Benavidez, 31-0 (25 KOs), has said he feels more comfortable and still powerful as he’s elevated up for this bout.
“It’s not out of the question. I can see how he would feel that – ‘Zurdo’ has mirrored that,” Malignaggi said.
The analysts reviewed how Ramirez, 48-1 (30 KOs), has defeated Joe Smith Jnr, dethroned Arsen Goulamirian and defended his belt versus Chris Billam-Smith and Yuniel Dorticos after his only loss as a light-heavyweight to former undisputed 175lbs champion Dmitry Bivol.
Algieri wondered if Benavidez can retain his hand speed, noting that Ramirez is a deliberate puncher at 200lbs who often carries “a spare tire” of extra midsection padding as a cruiserweight.
“This is not going to be a body-beautiful fight,” Algieri said.
Ramirez’s quality victories at cruiserweight must be considered, Malignaggi said, with Algieri adding he’s surprised by the betting support for Phoenix’s Benavidez, 29, as a -430 favorite given that it’s his cruiserweight debut.
Although Benavidez has defeated two impressive left-handers like Ramirez in David Morrell and Demetrius Andrade within the past couple years, one show commenter fretted Benavidez’s diminished hand speed “could be comical” by the packed-on poundage.
“Could it wear down David? Could it bite him in the second half with ‘Zurdo’ [expected to be] the more physical fighter?” Malignaggi wondered. “How can you look past ‘Zurdo?’”
The pair noted that Benavidez has only struggled in his first super-middleweight title fight against Ronald Gavril nine years ago as a 20-year-old.
“We’re still looking for a fight where [Benavidez] struggles to the finish line – and he’s fought some real good names,” including Anthony Yarde, Caleb Plant and Oleksandr Gvozdyk in recent bouts, Malignaggi said. “Is this the close fight?”
“Or David may just do Benavidez things, where you just say, ‘This guy’s so good,’” Algieri said.
Malignaggi suggested the bout sets up for the durable Ramirez, 34, to produce his defining moment on the Cinco de Mayo card.
Although Benavidez has said he wants to return to light-heavyweight to meet current and recent champions Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, losing to Ramirez would likely leave him no choice but to take that route.”
