David Benavidez won two world titles in a third weight class tonight, annihilating Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and forcing his opponent to quit in the sixth round.
After the dust cleared, the triumphant Benavidez had two big names in mind: Canelo Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol.
“Monster! Monster! I knew I wasn’t going to be able to out-power him, so I knew I had to use the gifts that God gave me — speed, power, movement, punch selection, and IQ, and that’s what I did,” Benavidez said after the fight. “I gave him thanks
for the opportunity. … I was kind of sorry it happened like this, I love Zurdo Ramirez, but it is what it is.”
“My punch selection is unlike anything else. Whoever it is, man, I don’t care, nobody can fuck with me,” he continued, before turning his attention to a familiar face in the crowd, Canelo Alvarez.
Benavidez has expressed his desire many times to face Canelo, who repeatedly said Benavidez wasn’t a big enough name when both of them were at 168 lbs.
“I see Canelo in the building. Do you guys want to see Canelo vs David Benavidez?” he asked the crowd, receiving a big cheer.
“Enough said. Enough said. That means we can’t leave that fight on the table. I respect Canelo, he’s a great champion, but I’m a great champion, too. Let’s do it.”
Asked if he felt the fight was realistic, Benavidez admitted he didn’t know, but pointed out he still has the WBC title at 175 lbs, too, and adding that Dmitry Bivol — who holds the other three belts at light heavyweight — is still a target, as well.
“Bivol’s No. 1 on my hit list. Bivol’s a great competitor, a great champion. I just want to test myself every single fight,” Benavidez said.
As of now, Canelo is expected to face Christian Mbilli for Mbilli’s WBC super middleweight title in September, while Bivol is set to return on May 30 in a title defense in Russia against Michael Eifert.
