The ending of the sixth round looked routine in real time. A closer look revealed a different story. As Ramirez took the final burst, Benavidez’s right arm made a move that seemed independent of his punches, catching Ramirez and contributing to the stoppage.
A moment to divide opinions on the topic Inside the Ring program.
Teofimo Lopez said: “They say he hit his elbow at the end. But even then, I don’t think it was intentional,” Teo said.
Max Kellerman took an opposing view, describing the movement as consistent with the habits of internal combat, with close-range fighters turning tiny shots into elbows.
Replay came into focus because the action couldn’t be read as a elementary continuation. The elbow seemed to follow its own path rather than the natural ending of the punch. This distinction is often the difference between a missed call and a foul.
Unlike the accidental elbow, which occurs when a punch goes over the target, this move appeared to be the primary offensive action. The arm did not extend to strike, but remained crooked, leading with its joint.
Benavidez dominated statistically, making the foul theoretically “unnecessary” to win. Ramirez landed a total of 89 punches compared to Benavidez’s 151 punches. At the time of the break, Benavidez was leading 50-44 on the scorecards. It was a tidy search.
Ramirez, who had never been stopped in 50 professional fights, went down immediately as the punch hit him in the eye. This led to arguments that the arrest was a direct result of an illegal punch rather than an accumulation of “machine gun” combinations that Benavidez landed during the fight.
Inside exchanges often involve forearms and shoulders as players jockey for position. Referees rarely stop the action unless the move is obvious. In this case, the speed of the finish line and the damage already done made it effortless to wave at this point.
Replay changed the way the ending is perceived. The finish that looked tidy at first glance now raises a question that wasn’t there in real life.
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.