David Benavidez Uses Ramirez Fight as Bridge to 175

David Benavidez is taking the long way to the biggest fights because waiting has already failed him once.

The unbeaten two-division titleholder will step up again on May 2 to face unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas. The fight headlines a pre–Cinco de Mayo card and reflects a conscious decision to pursue a recognizable opponent instead of remaining inactive while larger opportunities remain unresolved.

The move is not intended as a permanent shift. Benavidez has stated that cruiserweight is a temporary stop, used to secure a meaningful fight and additional belts while the top of the 175-pound division remains unsettled. His long-term focus, he has said, remains unchanged.

Benavidez explains temporary move

During a recent appearance in the Phoenix area, Benavidez addressed the reasoning behind the decision and emphasized that his plans extend beyond a single fight at cruiserweight.

“I’m going up specifically for that fight,” Benavidez said. “But I’m coming back down after that. Instead of waiting, I’m moving up to get a recognizable name.”

Following the Ramirez fight, Benavidez has pointed toward Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol as his intended targets. Both remain central figures at light heavyweight, and Benavidez has indicated that competing at that level is where he believes he belongs. For now, the move upward allows him to remain active while maintaining relevance.

Past delays inform current approach

Benavidez’s preference for action is shaped by his experience at super middleweight. He twice held versions of the WBC title but never secured a defining fight against Saul Alvarez. While Alvarez unified the division, Benavidez spent extended periods as mandatory and interim champion. The bout was never ordered, and years passed before it became clear it would not take place.

Rather than repeat that pattern, Benavidez moved up in 2024 and immediately placed himself in position. He defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk to win the WBC interim light heavyweight title, then chose a more demanding route by facing David Morrell instead of waiting for the division’s situation to resolve on paper. That win kept him in line for the eventual winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev.

When Bivol later vacated the WBC belt, Benavidez was elevated to full champion without fighting for it. The title brought status but did not fully satisfy his stated goals.

“I’m here to become undisputed champion,” Benavidez said. “I want all the belts at light heavyweight.”