By Miguel Maravilla
This weekend features the showdown between cruiserweights David Benavidez and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, headlining the PBC on Prime Pay-Per-View on Saturday night from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Prior to the cruiserweight championship fight, the undercard will feature several action-packed bouts celebrating the festive Cinco de Mayo weekend.
Lucero vs. Flores Opens PPV
Opening the pay-per-view portion of the card, undefeated super welterweight Isaac “Puro México” Lucero (18-0, 14 KOs) of La Paz, Baja California, Mexico squares off against Ismael Flores (17-1-1, 12 KOs) of Barcelona, Spain, by way of Argentina.
Lucero makes his pay-per-view debut after fighting in Las Vegas for the first time last year, scoring a second-round stoppage over Omar Valenzuela. He followed that up with an eighth-round stoppage of Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in his last fight in San Antonio. Flores will also be looking to shine in his U.S. debut after fighting his entire career in his adopted country of Spain. Flores is coming off a ninth-round stoppage of Oliver Quintana Sanchez last October.
A fight between two punchers, Lucero and Flores should test each other from the opening bell. Argentine fighters have always proven to be tough and durable. Perhaps the change in opponents could be a factor, but the Mexican Lucero comes into this fight with all the momentum on his side.
The Pick: Lucero by stoppage
Undefeated Bantamweights Chavez and Sanchez Square Off
Undefeated Mexican bantamweights Jorge Chavez (15-0-1, 8 KOs) of San Diego by way of Tijuana, Mexico, and Jose “Tito” Sanchez (15-0, 9 KOs) of Cathedral City, California, put their records on the line.
Chavez comes into this fight after winning a unanimous decision over Manny Flores in a rematch. Prior to that bout, he fought Flores to a draw. Sanchez scored a sixth-round knockout over Jesus Ramirez in his last fight.
I expect both fighters to come out at a fast pace in what should be a competitive bout that goes the distance. This one should be a toss-up—there is no doubt about it.
The Pick: Chavez by decision, possibly a draw
Tijuana vs. Chihuahua
Super lightweight Oscar Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KOs) of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico takes on Tijuana’s Angel Fierro (23-4-2, 18 KOs) in what should be an all-action fight to continue the pay-per-view festivities.
Duarte is coming off a majority decision over Kenneth Sims Jr. and was scheduled to take on former IBF super lightweight champion and recent Zuffa signee Richardson Hitchins back in February. Hitchins fell ill following the weigh-in and withdrew from the fight, costing Duarte a world title opportunity. Fierro was disqualified in his last fight after kicking opponent Abraham Cordero in his hometown of Tijuana, leading to a wild scene following the disqualification. Prior to that, he gave former world champion Isaac Cruz all he could handle in a decision loss.
There will be no backing down from either fighter—that’s guaranteed. Duarte brings the skills and explosiveness, while Fierro will come prepared and aggressive. In the end, Duarte’s skills should make the difference, potentially leading to a late stoppage.
The Pick: Duarte by stoppage
Tijuana vs. Nayarit
In what is expected to be an explosive battle, WBA super middleweight world champion Armando “Toro” Reséndiz (16-2, 11 KOs) of Nayarit, Mexico takes on Tijuana’s former world champion Jaime Munguía (45-2, 35 KOs) in the evening’s co-main event.
Reséndiz is coming off an upset victory over Caleb Plant last year as he looks to successfully defend his title against his fellow countryman. Munguía is on a redemption path following a decision win over Bruno Surace in their rematch, avenging his knockout defeat. The jury is still out on Munguía, however, after he initially tested positive for a banned substance following the rematch before later being cleared of wrongdoing.
There is no way Munguía and Reséndiz come out looking to box cautiously or play it safe. Both fighters are offensively minded, with Munguía working under Eddie Reynoso and Reséndiz trained by the respected Manny Robles. In what should be a battle of will more than skill, expect both men to connect early and often once the exchanges begin.
The difference in this fight will be experience.
The Pick: Munguía by late stoppage
The Main Event
WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) of Mazatlán, Mexico attempts to defend his titles against undefeated two-division world champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs).
Ramirez is coming off a unanimous decision win over Yunier Dorticos last June. Benavidez makes his cruiserweight debut after scoring a seventh-round stoppage over Anthony Yarde in November.
The key question is whether Benavidez’s hand speed will remain the same moving up to cruiserweight. Ramirez, meanwhile, has proven to be dangerous since moving up in weight.
It will be a difficult fight for both men. I expect Benavidez to come out firing early and assert himself in the ring, while Ramirez starts patiently, picking his shots and using his southpaw stance as a potential problem for Benavidez.
The Pick: Zurdo by close decision, possibly a draw
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