Is David Benavidez Boxing’s Next Mexican Superstar?

Benavidez, 29, became a two-division world champion in just three fights at light heavyweight. He captured his first world championship at super middleweight three months before he turned 21, making him the youngest 168-pound world champion in history.

Fights on Cinco de Mayo weekend are important to Benavidez. “That date is legendary because we already know what’s coming with that date. We’re going to make history. Two Mexican fighters fighting for the cruiserweight belts on Cinco de Mayo. It doesn’t feel better than for me to give my people what they want to see on our day.”

The two compatriots are very familiar with each other; they have saved many times. Benavidez helped Ramirez prepare for his super middleweight championship fight against Arthur Abraham in April 2016, when Zurdo became Mexico’s first 168-pound world champion.

Ramirez is looking forward to sharing the ring with Benavidez. “I’m so excited to headline this event. I believe we have the potential to give fans the ‘Fight of the Year.’ While David Benavidez and I have saved nearly 200 rounds together over our careers, it’s so much different to actually be in the ring. It won’t just be a regular fight; it’s going to be a war.”

While Benavidez only moves up one weight class to challenge Zurdo for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, it’s a big step up.

In each of his last three fights, Zurdo Ramirez has weighed in at over 199 pounds, just under the cruiserweight division’s 200-pound weight limit. In November against Yarde, Benavidez weighed in at 174.3 pounds. Benavidez is younger and is the betting favorite over Zurdo in the Cinco de Mayo showdown. But even for a big light heavyweight like David Benavidez, moving up 25 pounds in weight to fight a multi-division world champion in just over five months is tough.

Benavidez intends to return to light heavyweight after his fight with Ramirez. The plan is to fight again on Mexican Independence Day weekend, September 12th. Benavidez will seek out one of two orcas in light heavyweight: Dmitrii Bivol (24-1, 12 KO) or Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KO).

Benavidez looks positive about grabbing the mantle of Mexico’s top two boxing weekends by the horns. “I hope not, that’s what it’s going to be. The way I make sure of that is I’m just going to make the best fights happen. Hopefully we get Beterbiev or Bivol right here in September, and then next year, same thing. Keep it up, give fans the biggest fights possible.”

At 168 pounds, Benavidez defeated top super middleweights including Anthony Dirrell, Caleb Plant and David Lemieux. He was the only man who could solve defensive ace Demetrius Andrade, knocking out the previously undefeated Rhode Island native after six rounds, the last time we saw Andrade. Of course, there was one man Benavidez desired to take on at 168 pounds.

Frustrated by Canelo Alvarez’s reluctance to fight at super middleweight, Benavidez moved on and moved up in weight. After three fights at light heavyweight and three wins against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, David Morrell and Anthony Yarde, Benavidez became a two-division world champion.

With 25 knockouts in 31 wins, it’s easy to assume that Benavidez only wins by overwhelming opponents. What makes The Mexican Monster scary is that he has boxing skills to match his prolific power. According to Compubox, Benavidez is connecting on 38.5% of his punches, the second highest percentage in the sport.

The fastest way from point A to point B is a straight line, a saying Benavidez lives by when throwing punches. His jab is accurate and powerful. His crosses and hooks are direct. He throws uppercuts with malicious intent. By using exemplary footwork to keep opponents at his preferred range, Benavidez puts himself in position to land devastating blows.

His last fight against Yarde was a good example. The fight turned in the fourth round when Benavidez began to utilize his power punches. Benavidez got Yarde’s attention by landing a handful of jabs. As Yarde adjusted to parry the straight, hard jabs, he left himself vulnerable to crosses and hooks around his defensive guard. Benavidez was happy to take advantage, and in time the referee waved off the bout a few rounds later.

Only time will tell if David Benavidez can become Mexico’s next boxing superstar, joining the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar de la Hoya and Canelo Alvarez. Many dominant Mexican boxers plied their trade in the lower weight divisions.

Over the past sixty years, conquerors such as Vicente Saldivar, Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate, Salvador Sanchez, Ricardo Lopez, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera have dominated the lighter weight divisions.

For Benavidez, he plied his trade with light heavyweight and cruiserweight figures to put wind in his sails to become a household name. In general, fans pay more attention to the larger weight classes. Speaking English and Spanish helps connect with fans. As an offensive-first fighter who doesn’t mind trading punches, he’s well-suited to be a fan favorite like many Mexican fighters before him.

Right now, Benavidez doesn’t seem too worried about being the face of boxing. “A lot of people have thrown the ‘face of boxing’ out there. I’m just trying to be who I know I am, and that’s one of the baddest guys on the planet, calling everybody out and beating these fighters and winning championships. If that earns me the title of face of boxing, then I guess that’s what it is.”

Wresting two cruiserweight belts away from Zurdo Ramirez on Saturday night will be an important step towards stardom. Defeating Bivol or Beterbiev in September would give Benavidez a strong case for Fighter of the Year and provide his career with massive momentum.

Those are two monstrous tasks, but David Benavidez isn’t worried. “That’s why boxing is boxing. The real fights are 50-50, I don’t want easy fights. I want to achieve my greatness and show the fans who I am.”

The appropriate name to give Benavidez is a discussion for the future, but on Saturday night the title of “unified cruiserweight champion” will be enough for The Mexican Monster.