Gilberto Ramírez will defend his WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles against WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez on May 2nd in Las Vegas, Golden Boy Promotions and both camps confirmed over the weekend. From Mexico, Ramirez (pictured) also held a 168-pound title earlier in his career, will face the Mexican-American in a highly anticipated clash on the trraditional Cinco De Mayo Mexican holiday. Ramirez, known as “El Zurdo,” is coming off a dominant unanimous decision victory over a former title holder, Yuniel Dorticos, last June. Benavidez, widely regarded as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters, will take on a new challenge by moving up in weight. The reigning WBC 155-pound champion is stepping into the 200-pound division in pursuit of further glory and the chance to become a two-division champion. In his most recent outing on November 22nd, Benavidez stopped Anthony Yarde with a seventh-round technical knockout to retain his title.

 

Ramírez enters the fight with a record of 48-1 (30 KOs), while Benavidez stands undefeated at 31-0 with 25 knockouts.