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Benavidez vs. Ramirez is a familiarity, not a mystery

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Image: David Benavidez vs Zurdo Ramirez Is Familiarity, Not Mystery

Long before they won the cruiserweight belts, David Benavidez and Gilberto Ramirez were just two fighters trading rounds in a private gym. Benavidez was still a teenager. Ramirez was already established. This story is now being used again as color ahead of their fight scheduled for May 2. It also complicates how to read the fight.

Benavidez moves up to cruiserweight to face Ramirez for the WBA and WBO titles. On paper, this is an essential step. In practice, there are fewer unknowns than most title fights because the fighters already know each other. Familiarity removes surprise. It can also change instinct.


Fans have seen this energetic before. When former gym buddies or longtime friends meet, fights often look different than fights against unknown opponents. There is usually more caution, more respect and fewer moments where a hurt player is pressed without hesitation. However, this does not mean that there is a lack of effort. This means that the emotional temperature is lower.

This doesn’t fit the expectations often associated with up-to-date tent fighting. Promoters talk about violence. Patrons speak out about the damage. Turki Alalshikh spoke openly about blood thirst and broken faces. Familiarity, however, works in the opposite direction. He introduces restraint where the spectacle requires recklessness.

This is not an accusation. This is the pattern. Fighters who have split rounds in private gyms understand their limitations. They know how quickly injuries can change a career and how little loyalty there is once a fight is over. That knowledge doesn’t disappear on fight night, especially when the money is robust and future options remain open.

For Benavidez, this is also his first cruiserweight fight, which in itself creates reasons for caution. For Ramirez, it’s a defense against someone he knows well, limiting unpredictability but increasing responsibility. They both make money and stay relevant regardless of the outcome.

However, this does not mean that the fight cannot be fierce. Maybe. It can also degenerate into long stretches of measured boxing rather than continuous exchanges.

A shared history does not guarantee drama. It introduces restraint next to the competition.

This question will only be answered when the bell rings.

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Categories David Benavidez and Gilberto Ramirez

Last update: 01/03/2026

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Boxing

Jared Anderson withdraws from May 9 fight with a torn bicep

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Image: Jarrell Miller Claims Jared Anderson Pulled Out of Their September 13th

Ring Magazine reports that Anderson withdrew from his fight with Solomon Dacres after suffering a bicep injury. The 10-round heavyweight bout was scheduled for Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.

Anderson (18-1, 15 KO) was looking for another step back after a knockout loss to Martin Bakole in 2024. Instead, the 26-year-old now faces another delay at a bad time in his career.

The fight at Dacres was not a world-class test, but it had value. Anderson needed rounds, activity and a consistent win on a major heavyweight card. Now that’s gone, and the injury gives critics more room to question where his career is headed.

The reaction from boxing fans was fierce, with several responses pointing out Anderson’s injury history and durability. Some questioned whether his body would hold up in the heavyweight division. Others suggested he might have to consider considering the cruiserweight division if physical problems persist.

It may be tough, but it’s the kind of failure that changes the way you view your prospect. Anderson still has talent, but he’s no longer talked about as a pure future heavyweight star. Now he’s trying to prove he can stay vigorous long enough to rebuild.

Moving to Queensberry and fighting in the UK seemed like a desperate attempt to find a novel environment that could boost his confidence. But this bicep injury is a disaster because it adds another year of rust to a psyche that already looked feeble. You won’t rebuild your self-confidence at the gym.

A torn bicep effectively means Jared Anderson’s career will be in frigid storage until the end of 2026. Recovery from this type of surgery usually takes six to nine months before a player can even think about hitting a full-power shot with that hand.

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Boxing

Mike Tyson is nearing the end of his career at the age of 60 after Mayweather’s snubs and injuries

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Mike Tyson entrance 2024

Mike Tyson is nearing the end of his career as Floyd Mayweather’s recent cancellation of an exhibition may have put the final nail in the coffin.

Tyson’s Hall of Fame tenure, which incredibly extended at the age of 57 against Jake Paul in 2024, was approaching his final appearance against Mayweather.

The fight had been talked about for months as if it had actually happened. A date was set, attention was paid, but the reality never lived up to the headlines as the proposed event failed to advance beyond early discussion and quietly faded away.

There was a lack of explanation, space and real emphasis. In the case of a Floyd Mayweather event, this is usually the biggest prize.

When Mayweather wants a fight, he promotes it. This time he didn’t.

Instead, Mayweather moved on. His confirmed return against Mike Zambidis in Athens made it clear what his focus was, leaving the Tyson fight on the sidelines – most likely for good.

Time and injuries

Time has also caught up with this idea.

Tyson will turn 60 in June, and his next fights will be a huge surprise considering everything that has already happened.

He almost died when Paul’s fight was postponed from April to November two years ago, which Tyson himself later detailed after an in-flight medical emergency left the former champion fighting for his life.

That alone should be a warning.

Combine that with previous back surgery, appearing in a cast on his arm just last month, and the massive amounts of marijuana Mike is consuming, and another comeback seems unthinkable.

Tyson has been through a lot, but it’s a completely different situation for the hard-hitting Modern Yorker.

Ariel Helwani show

The last chapter

The Mayweather fight was the one that could have sent Mike flying with fanfare.

It had the name, the curiosity and the setting that could allow Tyson to make one last appearance without everything that comes with a full comeback.

Now that’s gone and it looks like his fight with Paul is all she wrote.

World Boxing News has already reported that Tyson’s former rival, Oliver McCall, is continuing to fight at the age of 61, but Tyson was never that type of fighter.

If he does not regain full health in the coming months, boxing fans will likely see the last of the youngest heavyweight champion of all time.

At this point, the opportunity has passed and nothing else on the table carries the same weight.

Mainly because it feels like Mike Tyson’s swan song has already happened.


About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, published exclusive international performances and reported on in-ring performances. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.

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Naoya Inoue Offered Another Super Fight If He Beats Nakatani: ‘I’m Ready Anytime’

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Naoya Inoue offered another super fight if he beats Nakatani: “I’m ready whenever”

Naoya Inoue received another career-defining challenge before she even stepped into the ring against Junto Nakatani.

First and foremost, “The Monster” must defend his undisputed super bantamweight crown against Nakatani on May 2, headlining the blockbuster Japanese event at the Tokyo Dome.

This will mark Inoue’s seventh defense of his four major 122-pound titles, and the uncompromising feeling has been considered the top star of the two-pound-for-pound division.

The 33-year-old’s most notable victories came against the likes of Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas, who both defeated the undisputed two-division champion but were ultimately stopped in rounds six and eight, respectively.

Meanwhile, Nakatani is widely considered to be Inoue’s toughest opponent to date, even though the three-division world champion lost debatable points of victory over Sebastian Hernandez in December last year.

However, to be fair, this was his first appearance at 122 pounds and many expected the 28-year-old to raise his level against Inoue.

However, in a world where Inoue is winning, it is becoming more and more likely that he will consider a potential fight with Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.

The unified super flyweight champion will move up to 118 pounds for his next fight, where he will face WBA champion Antonio Vargas on June 13.

If this next assignment is successful, Rodriguez will talk about it Ring Magazine that he will jump up another weight class to face Inoue.

“I’m ready at any time. If I was offered this fight right now, I would definitely accept it.”

Although Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed initial talks about the fight, there is equally a chance that “Bam” will drop down to 115 pounds in pursuit of undisputed glory.

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