David Benavidez put on one of the most savagely brilliant performances we've seen in the ring this year. Benavidez battered Gilberto Ramirez en route to becoming the new WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion. Benavidez's pressure and otherworldly accuracy on power punches left Ramirez's right eye terribly swollen and perhaps with a broken orbital bone.

Ramirez was down in the fourth and then again in the sixth where the rugged former champion took a knee and was forced to succumb to the Monster. This was one-way traffic but it wasn't because Ramirez wasn't trying.

What Happened in the Benavidez vs. Ramirez Main Event?

Benavidez's hand speed was the story. Ramirez simply couldn't contend with The Monster's blistering combinations and power.

The 25-pound jump from light heavyweight didn't slow Benavidez down at all. He landed clean from the opening bell, broke Ramirez down systematically, and added another stoppage to a finishing résumé that has now produced six straight knockouts.

The fourth-round knockdown was the first major signal, and the second knockdown in the sixth ended a fight that had only been heading one direction. Benavidez moves to 32-0 (26 KOs); Ramirez drops to 48-2 (30 KOs) with the first stoppage loss of his career.

What Did the Co-Main and Undercard Deliver?

Jaime Munguia was almost as dominant as Benavidez. Training under Eddie Reynoso appears to have made a significant difference for Munguia. His boxing looked slicker and he was more composed the entire fight as he dominated Armando Resendiz to become a two-division champion.

Munguia captured the WBA middleweight title with scorecards of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108. Elsewhere on the card, Oscar Duarte edged Angel Fierro by split decision (115-113, 112-116, 116-112) in a competitive super lightweight bout.

Tito Sanchez stopped Jorge Chavez via 10th-round TKO at 2:30 with two knockdowns in the final round, and Ismael Flores outpointed Isaac Lucero by unanimous decision (98-92, 98-92, 99-91) for the WBO NABO super welterweight title.

  • David Benavidez def. Gilberto Ramirez (c) via sixth-round TKO
  • Jaime Munguia def. Armando Resendiz (c) via unanimous decision (17-111, 119-109, 120-108)
  • Oscar Duarte def. Angel Fierro via split decision (115-113, 112-116, 116-112)
  • Tito Sanchez def. Jorge Chavez via ninth-round TKO
  • Ismael Flores def. Isaac Lucero via unanimous decision (98-92, 98-92, 99-91)

What Does This Mean for David Benavidez's Legacy?

Benavidez has solidified himself as one of the best fighters in the sport and the premier Mexican boxer in the world.

At 29, he's now a three-division world champion (WBC super middleweight twice, WBC and WBA Regular light heavyweight, WBA and WBO cruiserweight) with a perfect 32-0 ledger and 26 stoppages. The Cinco de Mayo headliner slot in Las Vegas places him in lineage with Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, and Canelo Alvarez — and his case for the top of the pound-for-pound ranks just got a lot harder to argue against.

What's Next for Benavidez and Ramirez?

Benavidez called out Canelo, who was in the building to support Munguia, but everyone seems to know that fight is a longshot. Instead, a battle with Dmitry Bivol at 175 pounds makes a lot more sense.

Canelo is already booked against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, which essentially closes the immediate window on the long-rumored superfight. A Bivol rematch at light heavyweight delivers the storyline boxing fans actually want to see, with Benavidez stepping back into a division he still holds belts in. For Ramirez, at 34 with a first stoppage loss now on his record, an honest reset is in order — whether that means another cruiserweight run or a quieter rebuild.