In two months’ time, Gilberto Ramirez and David Benavidez collide in one of the most hotly-anticipated bouts of the 2026 calendar, and a fighter who has regularly sparred both has offered his opinion on the contest.
Benavidez became the youngest super-middleweight world champion of all time when he defeated Ronald Gavril in 2017, but ‘The Mexican Monster’ has since moved up to light-heavyweight and become a two-division world champion.
Now, he seeks success in a third weight-class, as he makes the quantum leap up to the cruiserweight scene and takes on unified WBA & WBO champion ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez upon his debut at 200lbs.
Speaking to FightHype ahead of that battle, two-time world title challenger Gabe Rosado, who has shared a number of rounds with both men in the gym, revealed that he is leaning towards Benavidez due to his intensity and volume.
“Zurdo and Benavidez, we have sparred a number of times, I have lost count of how many times I have sparred those dudes because I have been sparring Benavidez since he was like 15 years old. I used to do my training camps in Arizona, in Phoenix, so I was working with him and then he eventually came to Wild Card [Boxing Club] and the same with Zurdo.
“The difference, I would say, is that Zurdo is more on working on things and Benavidez is more aggressive. Benavidez does like 10 rounds in sparring, so I think that the intensity is just different man.
“The thing is, since I have sparred with them for so long, we always had good rhythm working together and we were really similar to each other.
“I think that it is a tough fight, but I think you have got to favour Benavidez, just because of the volume. I think that Zurdo is going to have to be on his A-game, he is going to have to be the best Zurdo, in order to beat Benavidez. He is going to have to really box well, stick a jab out there and be in tip-top shape [to win].”
Time will tell whether ‘The Mexican Monster’ can indeed get the victory when the fight with Ramirez takes place on Saturday, May 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
