David Benavidez KOs Zurdo

Cinco de Mayo 2026 Weekend in Las Vegas

Photos by Al Applerose

By Uppercut Magazine staff

David “The Monster” Benavidez arrived in Las Vegas and took over the city along with two cruiserweight world titles after destroying the talented Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in an all-Mexico battle in the casino city.

Never before had cruiserweights headlined a Cinco de Mayo card in Las Vegas.

Benavidez (32-0, 26 Kos) displayed his awesome speed and power in dismantling a very good champion in Ramirez (48-2, 30 Kos) in front of more than 12,000 rabid fans at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday May 2.

Both were familiar with each other from sparring more than 200 rounds against each other. But sparring and fighting are different. And though both are friends this is prizefighting.

“I have no problem fighting a friend,” Benavidez had warned.

In less than six rounds Benavidez battered the cruiserweight champion from Mazatlan, Mexico with a withering display of speed and power seldom seen in a boxing ring. Aside from Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr. and now Benavidez, cruiserweights or heavyweights do not possess the lightning combinations unleashed in Las Vegas.

Blinding powerful combinations put down Ramirez twice before referee Thomas Taylior waved his arms to the world that the contest was over.

Benavidez had slowly proceeded to adapt to Ramirez’s defensive and offensive tendencies before opening up his own attacks behind dazzling combinations that caught the champion unaware and helpless.

At 2:59 of the sixth round the fight was over and Benavidez was ruled the victor by knockout and the new WBO and WBA cruiserweight world champion.

 "I just wanted to give him thanks for the opportunity. I love Zurdo Ramirez. You know, we came up together. We came up sparring together,” said Benavidez. “I got him ready for his world championship fights. He got me ready for my world championship fights. So, I just want to say I love Zurdo Ramirez, but, you know, it is what it is in here. There’s only one Monster.”

Munguia Wins

In another Mexican showdown Tijuana’s Jaime Munguia (46-2, 35 kOs) proved to champion Armando Resendiz (16-3, 11 Kos) of Nayerit, Mexico that the old Munguia is gone and a newer, quicker, more varied Munguia is now the WBA super middleweight champion.

Munguia showed off his new mobility and agility to go along with his vaunted power and kept Resendiz guessing throughout their fight. It took Resendiz nearly the entire fight to figure out how to attack the fancy footwork of the Tijuana fighter.

“It feels great to have this championship belt with me, but this is just the beginning. I’m excited for what comes next. We are ready for big challenges and great fights," said Munguia.

Oscar Duarte (31-2-1) managed to out-fight the heavier Angel Fierro (23-5-2) and win by split decision after 12 rounds. Duarte fired the heavier blows but Fierro kept punching and kept the fight close.

Argentina’s Ismael Flores used his speed and agility to upset Mexico’s Isaac Lucero (18-1) and hand him his first loss after 10 furious rounds.

Jose “Tito” Sanchez (16-0, 10 KOs) of Coachella knocked out Jorge Chavez (15-1-1) in the last round to win the fierce super bantamweight fight.

Almost every fight on the boxing card was evenly matched and intense.