Ryan Garcia Calls Benavidez Stoppage Over Ramirez

Ryan Garcia backs Benavidez to force round eight stoppage as WBA and WBO cruiserweight belts go on the line Saturday

Ryan Garcia has picked David Benavidez to force a round eight stoppage against Gilberto Ramirez ahead of their cruiserweight title fight. The call puts the spotlight on whether Benavidez’s combinations and workrate carry up to 200 pounds against a proven, durable champion.

Benavidez moves up to 200 pounds to challenge Ramirez for the WBA and WBO belts at T-Mobile Arena. He enters as the WBC light heavyweight champion and is chasing a title in a third division after earlier success at super middleweight.

Ramirez brings a 48-1 record into the fight, with his only loss coming against Dmitry Bivol in 2022. Since moving to cruiserweight, he has won consistently and handled opponents without major trouble, giving him a size and experience edge at the weight.

“Corner stoppage round 8 in favor of Benavidez,” said Ryan Garcia on X.

Benavidez has stopped 25 of his 31 opponents, including a late finish against Anthony Yarde in his last fight in November. That win came at light heavyweight, and this will be his first appearance at cruiserweight.

The jump in weight remains a key point. Ramirez has been active at 200 pounds and has taken punches from naturally bigger fighters, while Benavidez is testing himself in a new division.

While Ryan Garcia is usually one for theatrics, he’s banking on the idea that Benavidez’s volume is a universal constant that doesn’t care about weight classes.

Benavidez is the favorite, but he’s a former super middleweight who just recently moved to light heavyweight and is now jumping another 25 pounds to face a massive, established cruiserweight. Zurdo Ramirez is a naturally huge guy who has spent the last few years acclimating to the 200-pound limit.

Zurdo has never been stopped, or even knocked down, in 49 fights. If Benavidez can’t hurt him early, he’s looking at a long night against a southpaw who throws just as much as he does.

Not everyone is convinced by Garcia’s call. Oscar De La Hoya has questioned how Benavidez will handle the power at cruiserweight, pointing to concerns about durability going into the fight.

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