Boxing

PBC claims the rights to Cinco de Mayo along with Benavidez-Zurdo

Published

8 months ago

March 19, 2026

Premier Boxing Champions has faced a lot of criticism since moving from Showtime to Amazon Prime Video – lower production, inconsistent schedule, episodes where boxing’s deepest squad sat idly while the rest of the sport raced to the front. The Cinco de Mayo weekend card that PBC is preparing on May 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is a direct response to all of this.

Undefeated two-division world champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez (31-0, 25 KO) will move up to 200 pounds to face unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez (48-1, 30 KO) in the main event. PBC payment available on Prime Videowith DAZN.com also streaming. PBC announced the full undercard on Wednesday, adding a WBA super middleweight world title fight as the co-main event and two additional all-Mexican fights to a lineup that now rivals anything the promotion has assembled since arriving on Prime Video.

Main Event: Benavidez chases history at cruiserweight

Benavidez-Zurdo is a fight that grew out of years of fighting in the gym. The two sparred extensively, and both spoke publicly about these sessions with the mutual respect that usually means the rounds were real. Benavidez admitted as much at a February press conference in Las Vegas: “We had so many great sparring sessions and I told Zurdo then that one day we would have to do it on pay-per-view. Now we fight for two titles on May 2.”

For Benavidez, the stakes go well beyond adding a third division title to his collection – although that in itself would be significant. The 29-year-old from Phoenix became the youngest ever super middleweight world champion at the age of 20, defeating Ronald Gavril for the vacant WBC belt in 2017. He lost the title twice outside the ring – once to a positive cocaine test, once to the scale – and has rebuilt his career with a resume that leaves no room for debate. Caleb Plant via unanimous decision. Demetrius Andrade stopped in the sixth place. Oleksandr Gvozdyk dethroned in the fight for the WBC lithe heavyweight title. David Morrell Jr., undefeated at the time, scored the unification bout. Anthony Yarde was demolished in seven years during its last outing last November in Riyad.

Now he bypasses the likely path to Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev at 175 to jump into Ramírez’s 25-pound division. His father and coach, Jose Benavidez Sr., put the move in characteristically blunt terms: “David Benavidez doesn’t just have to win, he also has to show up to prove he can beat the Bivols and Beterbievs.”

Ramírez, 34, from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, earned his position the classic way — by going where the lanes are. He held the WBO super middleweight title for two years beginning in 2016, making five defenses, including two wins over Jesse Hart and victories over then-undefeated challengers Alexis Angulo and Habib Ahmed. His only loss was to Bivol in the lithe heavyweight division in 2022. Instead of staying at 175 pounds and fighting for what’s left, Ramírez moved up to cruiserweight and quickly took over the division, winning the WBA title by unanimous decision over Arsene Goulamirian in March 2024 and adding the WBO belt by defeating Chris Billam-Smith in November. He defended both teams last June against former champion Yuniel Dorticos before undergoing shoulder surgery. Benavidez will be his first opponent upon his return.

The matchup is historically unprecedented: the first-ever Mexican-Mexican championship fight to be held at over 168 pounds. The combined record of Benavidez and Ramírez is 79-1, with 55 knockouts. Both are comfortable at range and inside, and both possess the strength and power that tend to produce fights that fans remember. Ramírez has the size, experience at the weight and a championship pedigree at 200. Benavidez has the speed, the engine and a growing sense that he is close to becoming the face of the sport.

“I feel like I’m one step away from becoming the face of boxing,” Benavidez said at a news conference. “And if Zurdo wins, his stock will soar. Greatness awaits us on the other side of the tunnel.”

Card With Depth

On Wednesday, PBC rounded out the understated card with three fights that reflect real investment in the event, not filler.

The co-main event will be a legal fight for the world title. WBA super middleweight champion Armando “Toro” Reséndiz (16-2, 11 KO) will make his first defense against former 154-pound world champion Jaime Munguía (45-2, 35 KO). Reséndiz (27) won the belt in a painful way — upsetting Caleb Plant by split decision last May during a performance in which he defeated the former champion 186-108, according to CompuBox. Trained by Manny Robles, the Nayarit native displayed relentless pressure and bodywork that exhausted technically superior opponents. Munguía, 29, of Tijuana, is one of Mexico’s most popular energetic fighters – a former 154-pound titleholder with five defenses and a reputation as a crowd pleaser. He failed to make an undisputed title shot against Canelo Alvarez in 2024, but a victory over Reséndiz would have made him a two-division champion and put him back in the world title talks at 168.

Oscar Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KOs), a 30-year-old from Parral, Chihuahua who is knocking on the door at 140 pounds, will face powerful Tijuana brawler Angel Fierro (23-4-2, 18 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight bout. Duarte is on a four-fight winning streak and was scheduled to face IBF champion Richardson Hitchins before an illness on fight day ended his chance. Fierro is coming off a February 2025 war with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz that has been on many fight of the year lists.

The first pay-per-view bout features two undefeated Mexican fighters: Isaac “Puro México” Lucero (18-0, 14 KO) vs. Alan Sandoval (30-0-1, 19 KO) in a 10-round super welterweight fight. Sandoval, who has defeated 13 of his last 14 opponents, will make his U.S. debut. At least one additional undercard fight is expected to be announced.

PBC Statement on Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas has been the most valuable real estate in sports for decades, a tradition built by Oscar De La Hoya, Julio César Chávez and most recently expanded by Canelo Alvarez’s decade-long reign. With Canelo sidelined by injury, the holiday’s calling card was the open field, and PBC ran into it.

The event is co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Sampson Boxing in association with TGB Promotions, a cross-promotional arrangement that reflects the realities of current boxing dealmaking. “I am very excited about Cinco de Mayo weekend this year,” said Oscar De La Hoya. “These guys have 55 knockouts under their belt. They won’t bore the crowd. They’ll put on a show.”

It is worth paying attention to the distribution configuration. The PPV will be available on Prime Video – PBC’s home platform – but also on DAZN.com, a first for PBC. In a sport where platform fragmentation remains the biggest obstacle to fan engagement, staging the same PPV on two major streaming services is a practical concession to reality. Conventional cable and satellite TV ordering remains possible as well. The consumer still pays the PPV price regardless of platform, but the additional access point through DAZN – which currently includes Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy and Top Rank – expands the potential audience.

The May 2 event comes five weeks after PBC’s March 28 PPV, headlined by Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Two pay-per-view main events in five weeks is the kind of schedule that PBC critics have deemed necessary for the promotion. Whether this marks a lasting change or a seasonal blowout remains to be seen, but the product PBC will present for Cinco de Mayo weekend — undefeated pound-for-pound divisional contenders set to challenge the unified champion, a co-main event for the world title and a pan-Mexico support at T-Mobile Arena on the most iconic weekend in sports — is the strongest argument the promotion has made for itself since arriving on Prime Video.

The pay-per-view service starts at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT.

Boxing

Exploring Who Can Challenge Canelo Alvarez at 168: Beyond Terence Crawford

Published

5 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Exploring Who Can Challenge Canelo Alvarez at 168: Beyond Terence Crawford"

On Halloween night, Canelo Alvarez defeated Christian Mbilli to become a three-time super-middleweight world champion, and now the question is: outside of Terence Crawford, can any other boxer defeat Canelo at 168?

When Christian Mbilli entered the ring to face Canelo Alvarez, a reasonable number of boxing pundits thought Mbilli was going to pull off the upset. Alvarez has a history of stamina issues, and many assumed Mbilli could take advantage.

The idea was for Mbilli to overwhelm Canelo with his high-volume punching, wear him down, take over in the later rounds, and win a close decision. Unfortunately for Mbilli, the bout didn’t go that way.

Canelo Alvarez was able to dictate the range and the pace of the fight. Canelo’s defense was sharp, his stamina was good, and on offense he dominated the action with skillful counterpunching and pinpoint accuracy.

Mbilli fought the wrong type of fight, as most of the bout took place at mid-range as opposed to close quarters. Mbilli gave Canelo too much respect, and on multiple occasions he looked confused.

Christian Mbilli was severely outclassed, and because of that, the fight looked like a glorified sparring session. As a result of the bout, Canelo Alvarez (64-3-2, 39 KOs) is the new WBC super-middleweight world champion.

The sport of boxing is based on levels, and on the night of October 31st, Canelo Alvarez proved he was levels above Christian Mbilli. Now fight fans are wondering: are any of the current top super-middleweights close to being on Canelo’s level?

Terence “Bud” Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez with his skill set and his ring IQ. None of the top super-middleweights have a skill set compatible with Crawford’s, and none of them come close to Crawford when it comes to ring intelligence.

With that being said, one would ask, outside of a rematch with Crawford, what would be the ideal fight for Canelo at 168? If Terence Crawford can’t be convinced to come out of retirement, then Hamzah Sheeraz is probably the best candidate.

The former WBO world champion Hamzah Sheeraz is a 6-foot-3-inch super-middleweight who is skilled, and he can effectively fight from long range. On Halloween night, Sheeraz was ringside analyzing the fight.

Back in July 2025, Hamzah Sheeraz looked sharp as he stopped Edgar Berlanga in the 5th round. A year later, Sheeraz had a lackluster performance, as he scored a majority decision victory over Simon Zachenhuber.

Now Hamzah Sheeraz (24-0-1, 19 KOs) appears to be the frontrunner in regards to facing Canelo in 2027. If Sheeraz doesn’t get the match, then Canelo may choose to fight one of the other champions at 168.

Boxing

Lester Martinez Aims for Canelo Alvarez with BoMacs Support

Published

6 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Lester Martinez Aims for Canelo Alvarez with BoMac's Support"

Lester Martinez would give Canelo Alvarez a dangerous first defense of his reclaimed WBC super middleweight title. The aggressive Guatemalan can punch and has Brian “BoMac” McIntyre in his corner, giving him access to the trainer who helped Terence Crawford beat Canelo.

“My dream now is to fight Canelo because he’s the champion,” Martinez said to Izquierdazo Boxeo in a quote shared by The Ring. His WBC interim title gives that ambition substance, although it does not establish that Canelo has been ordered to face him next.

The McIntyre connection makes this more interesting than another contender requesting a payday. BoMac knows what went into preparing Crawford for Canelo and could bring that knowledge into Martinez’s camp. The WBC lists McIntyre as Martinez’s trainer. wbcboxing.com

Crawford could also offer firsthand advice about Canelo’s timing, counterpunching and habits under pressure. His involvement in a potential camp has not been announced, but Martinez would have an obvious reason to seek his stablemate’s input.

Mbilli took too long to alter his approach when Canelo’s jab and head movement disrupted his pressure last weekend. He continued following Canelo without consistently changing how he attacked. Martinez would likely arrive expecting those tactics, with McIntyre preparing ways to get past the jab and vary his attack.

That would not make Lester immune to Canelo’s counters. It could, however, reduce the rounds spent trying to work out what to do next. BoMac could prepare alternatives before the opening bell and help Martinez adjust between rounds when Canelo starts frustrating him.

Martinez would still need to win with his own tools. He cannot copy Crawford’s performance. His route would involve sustained pressure, body punching and enough variation to prevent Canelo from anticipating each attack.

His 2025 draw with Mbilli gives him a relevant result against the man Canelo just defeated. Beating Canelo is another matter, but an aggressive puncher arriving with informed preparation would be a serious undertaking for the 36-year-old champion.

Boxing

Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua

Published

6 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua"

Tyson Fury is going back to the playbook behind his most destructive night. He is targeting 280 pounds when he meets Anthony Joshua on December 11 in Cardiff. He wants the crushing bulk that battered Deontay Wilder years ago. Scaling up to that number on the scales is easy. Recreating that vintage menace nearly seven years later is a totally different story.

Fury announced his intentions directly to his fans online. “Big boy 280lbs incoming,” he posted. “Not your average build. However, the love handles are used for energy.” He already promised a blistering pace out of the gate, followed by a quick stoppage.

Back in February 2020, Fury stepped on the scale at 273 pounds before stopping Wilder in round seven. That was Fury at his peak as an aggressive bruiser. He bullied Wilder backward. He draped his weight over the champion, forcing him to haul around all that mass. Wilder could never find the space needed to trigger his lethal right hand.

Every single pound had a purpose back then because Fury used his bulk masterfully. He smothered Wilder immediately after throwing punches. He disrupted every attempt to recover. He kept trapping Wilder in corners where mounting any counter was nearly impossible. It was relentless physical pressure from a guy focused on total control.

Joshua is a distinct challenge, yet the logic makes total sense. Giving Joshua breathing room allows him to set his feet to unleash heavy shots. Chasing him down can trigger panic before his offense even starts. Fury would immediately test Joshua’s nerves under fire.

The big worry is the condition of those 280 pounds. Fury reached 281 pounds for the rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, looking soft around the waist. That outing provided zero evidence that piling on weight makes him more dangerous.

To handle Joshua, Fury needs agile footwork to cut off escape routes. He needs sharp reflexes to slip incoming fire. He needs enough gas in the tank to keep pressing once the initial charge fades. If Joshua survives that opening assault, the extra pounds could become a heavy burden as the rounds accumulate.

Fury picked a blueprint with real history. Replicating the monster who conquered Wilder is the real challenge.