Undefeated two-division world champion and Mexican superstar David “El Monstro” Benavidez and Mexico’s first cruiserweight world champion, unified WBA and WBO king Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez went face to face Saturday at a press conference to officially announce their showdown highlighting Cinco de Mayo Weekend in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 2 headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on Prime Video from T-Mobile Arena.
Benavidez vs. Zurdo will deliver a first of its kind Mexico vs. Mexico showdown on one of boxing’s premier weekends featuring two fighters with a combined record of 79-1, with 55 KOs. During the press conference, the fighters and teams spoke of their intense past sparring sessions and promised that the action on May 2 would far surpass those gym wars.
Pre-sale tickets are available Tuesday, February 24 from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com with the codes: PBC or GBP
Public on-sale begins Wednesday, February 25 at 10 a.m. PT through AXS.com.
The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Sampson Boxing, in association with TGB Promotions.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Saturday from Park MGM in Las Vegas:
DAVID BENAVIDEZ
“This is something I’ve been working toward for a long time. We’ve had so many great sparring sessions and I told Zurdo then, we’ll have to do this on pay-per-view one day. Now we’re going for two titles on May 2 and I’m very grateful.
“I feel like I’m on the cusp of being the face of boxing. And if Zurdo wins, his stock goes up. There’s greatness on the other side of that tunnel for both of us. So we’re gonna come extremely prepared.
“For the whole history of Cinco de Mayo fights, it’s been tremendous fighters like Oscar and Chavez. Not just great fights, but wars. Because they never took easy fights. That’s what we’re doing. We’re two Mexican warriors going for the title.
“Zurdo is a top fighter. He’s a great fighter. I was helping him get ready for Arthur Abraham and we had some great sessions. I knew he was gonna be one of those guys who would be around for a long time. Eventually we were gonna do this.
“I’m gonna go in there and leave everything in the ring. I’m making sure I’m doing extra reps with anything and everything I do. That’s just the way I fight. I want to earn the fans respect and go in there and put on a great fight.
“I want to make my own lane and achieve greatness.”
GILBERTO “ZURDO” RAMIREZ
“I’m so glad to be here to make a huge fight for May 2. Don’t miss this fight. I know Team Benavidez, they actually helped me a lot for my first world title fight. We’re gonna make this an exciting fight. At the end of the day, the titles are staying with Zurdo.
“I knew this would happen eventually. This is a dream come true. Right now is the right moment at 200 pounds. We’re going to feel comfortable and be at our best.
“He’s the monster. He’s different. He used to beat up a lot of sparring partners. Now we’re here, we’re two warriors and we’re making history.
“I just want to be the best. I want to fight the best and he’s one of the best. I just want to give the fans who love this sport the best fights.”
JOSE BENAVIDEZ SR. David’s Father & Trainer
“David Benavidez doesn’t just have to win. He has to show out to prove he can go after the Bivols and Beterbievs.
“This is gonna be an explosive fight. I also want to thank all the Mexican people for all their love and support. David Benavidez is showing he truly is the Mexican Monster.
“Be there on May 2. A new era will begin. The era of the Mexican Monster.”
JULIAN CHUA, Ramirez’s Trainer
“I can’t say how much of an honor it is to be a part of Cinco de Mayo weekend. The heritage of Mexican boxing built this sport.
“Neither team is too big into talking, and there won’t be a need for it. I’ve seen them sparring up close, and those rounds were all pay-per-view worthy. Now you layer on that it’s a real fight, the competitive nature that brought them both to where they are today, at its peak form, it will be there.
“This is gonna be a shootout and a great war. I don’t feel any pressure, because the way these guys are, it’s gonna be a great fight.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman & CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“I’m really excited about Cinco de Mayo weekend this year. Traditionally you’ve had great fighters like Julio Cesar Chavez, myself, Canelo Alvarez, fighting on this big weekend. But the fact that two Mexicans are fighting in the main event for the belts, it’s gonna be extra special.
“We have the first Mexican super middleweight and cruiserweight world champion on Cinco de Mayo in one corner in Zurdo Ramirez. And we know that Benavidez brings everything to the table, from round one to round twelve. I expect this to be a classic Mexican war. That’s what fight fans want to see. They want to be part of a historic event. That’s exactly what this fight brings to the table.
“These guys have 55 knockouts between them. They’re not gonna bore the crowd. They’re gonna put on a show. They’re technicians, but they’re fighters. The pressure is on. Cinco de Mayo is a date where people expect fireworks and that’s exactly what we will get.”
SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ, Sampson Boxing
“This is going to be a special Cinco de Mayo. I’m thankful that we’ve come together to make a great show and many more in the future. This is going to be one of the best shows that money can buy.
“Benavidez is taking his own way to become the best of the best. He’s not going to wait around for any challenger or champion. I want to thank ‘Zurdo’ for stepping up, because this is the fight.”
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