Mora says Zurdo doesn’t have to draft Benavidez

That period created debate over whether Ramirez should re-appear in a warm-up fight before facing one of the most physically demanding opponents of his career.

Those questions grew louder earlier this winter when discussions briefly surfaced about a January fight against Robin Safar, a fight that was ultimately scrapped. The episode only added urgency to the setup conversation as Ramirez continued to recover while the Benavidez date remained stuck.

Mora doesn’t see the layoff as a reason for hesitation. Talk about the YouTube channel of Chris Mannix, Mora said Ramirez’s size and experience at cruiserweight give him an edge, even after surgery. He also pointed to the adjustments Ramirez has made since his loss to Dmitry Bivol in 2022.

Since that loss, Ramirez has fought with more movement and patience, relying less on sustained pressure and more on footwork and spacing. That shift has been evident across his four fights since, and Mora believes it leaves him better suited to handle Benavidez’s aggression and volume-punching style.

Mora also mentioned the importance of timing. A Cinco de Mayo weekend fight in Las Vegas brings visibility that is hard to replace. From his point of view, an adjustment runs the risk of delaying the fight or easing back. on that date.

Benavidez has already expressed interest in pursuing Artur Beterbiev after May. Mora suggested a loss elsewhere could cool the appeal of a future meeting with Ramirez.

Mora ultimately sided with Ramirez, citing his natural size at cruiserweight and questioning how Benavidez would carry the additional 25 pounds. The real question is, will Ramirez’s surgically repaired shoulder hold up?