David Benavidez has spoken about his upcoming clash with Gilberto Ramirez.
To the surprise of many, Benavidez revealed he would be moving up to cruiserweight to face current WBO & WBA world champion, Ramirez.
He was last in action in November, where he brutally stopped Anthony Yarde in the seventh round.
In an interview in the ring straight after the win, he claimed the fight with Ramirez was next.
The Yarde fight was his just his third at light heavyweight so a move up so soon was not expected.
He revealed all about the Ramirez fight when speaking to the Toma Todito Boxing Show.
“I have sparred Zurdo [Ramirez] for a long, long time.
“After seeing he went up to cruiserweight me and Oscar De La Hoya are close and we talk a lot, we went to dinner.
“I told him ‘hey bro I’m ready to fight Zurdo Ramirez and if he wants to fight or expresses that he wanted to fight me then we can make the fight happen.’
“I told him that I would go up to cruiserweight immediately.
“I think that he just kept thinking about that idea and I could have stayed at light heavyweight and fought Callum Smith but like I said I just want to make the biggest fights happen.”
As Benavidez mentioned, his relationship with Ramirez’s promoter De La Hoya should make the fight easier to sign.
The bout is still waiting for a formal announcement but seems all but done.
Benavidez was initially expected to face Callum Smith while Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev were rumoured to be having their trilogy fight.
He explained his motivations behind such a sudden move up in weight.
“I could have stayed fought Callum Smith but Callum Smith has an interim WBO belt you know I’d rather go up to cruiserweight, fight for two belts and then come back to down to light heavyweight to fight again.
“I feel like that is stronger than fighting for another interim world title at light heavyweight.
“I want to become a great.
“I want to become one of the greatest boxers of my generation.
“Greatness isn’t given it is taken.”
He is already considered one of the sports best pound-for-pound fighters and a world title at cruiserweight would only bolster his rankings on those lists.
Despite the Ramirez fight set to take place next, he already revealed the fight he is targeting next.
“I only want to fight the best of the best and I fight the best of the best.
“I have a list and after I beat Zurdo Ramirez I want to fight Beterbiev and Bivol.
“I just want to fight the biggest fights possible.”
Ramirez vs Benavidez is still yet to be formally announced but according to reports the fight will take place on May 2nd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
