David Benavidez has entered the pound-for-pound discussion and is no longer on the sidelines after dominating Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas.

The T-Mobile Arena crowd witnessed a fierce battle as Benavidez set the tone from the opening bell, immediately setting the pace for Ramirez. Edged jabs and devastating power shots kept the cruiserweight champion on the back foot.

In the second round, both fighters traded in the middle of the ring, ready to take counterattacks and land punches of their own. Benavidez excelled at speed, with his hands throwing punch combinations almost too quickly to be tracked. Ramirez showed heart by throwing weighty hooks and uppercuts, but Benavidez’s timing and movement remained near perfect.

Benavidez is gaining momentum

Round three turned into non-stop action. Zurdo began to find his range, landing harder punches that forced Benavidez to circle and reset. Even under pressure, Benavidez maintained control, landing precise combinations that kept both judges and fans engaged.

Round four became the turning point. With less than thirty seconds left, Benavidez triggered a flurry that visibly shook Ramirez, forcing the champion to scramble behind schedule in the round. The crowd erupted as Benavidez showed why he is considered elite, leaving Ramirez in a precarious position.

Unwilling to back down, Ramirez left in the fifth round. Both fighters traded difficult, but Benavidez’s speed and accuracy gave him the advantage over the round and he landed cleaner, sharper shots. The momentum continued for the challenger as WBN scored in each round for Benavidez.

A highlight finish and statement

Round six ended with the final. Ramirez, visibly weakened by swelling in his right eye, tried to fight back but was unable to withstand the attack. Benavidez landed a series of precise punches that stunned Ramirez. The champion took a knee and the referee’s count-out ended the fight.

Benavidez’s performance was clear: his speed, precision and composure under pressure make him a force in the league. Ramirez showed courage and heart, but the Mexican Monster proved to be too swift, too edged and too consistent, leaving fans screaming for his rise to the top level of pound-for-pound contenders.

During the post-fight interview, Benavidez called on Canelo Alvarez to finally agree to the fight while his nemesis sat ringside.

WBN has full results and live coverage of the Las Vegas event.

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 been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.