Unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez defends both belts against undefeated two-division world champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez on Saturday 2 May 2026 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This Cinco de Mayo weekend showdown pits two of Mexico’s finest fighters against each other in one of the most anticipated bouts of the year, with Benavidez making his cruiserweight debut and Ramirez looking to cement his status as the division’s top dog.
What is Ramirez vs Benavidez?
Ramirez vs Benavidez is a 12-round contest for the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight championships of the world. Gilberto Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs), the reigning unified champion, puts both titles on the line against David Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs), who moves up from light heavyweight to challenge at 200 pounds for the first time in his career. The fight sits on the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) pay-per-view card and carries genuine crossover appeal, with both fighters boasting sizeable Mexican and Mexican-American fanbases.
The bout has attracted significant attention from sanctioning bodies. While the WBA has confirmed it will sanction the contest, the WBO’s position has been complicated by a dispute over the WBC’s creation of a special “Tollan Tlatequi” belt for the winner. Regardless of the sanctioning politics, this remains a high-quality matchup between two elite fighters.
When is Ramirez vs Benavidez?
The fight takes place on Saturday 2 May 2026. The PPV card is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT), with the main event ringwalks expected at approximately 11:00 PM ET (8:00 PM PT). For UK viewers, that translates to a main event start of around 4:00 AM BST on Sunday 3 May.
Where is Ramirez vs Benavidez?
The venue is the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip, a 20,000-seat multipurpose arena that has hosted some of boxing’s biggest nights in recent years, including Canelo Alvarez vs Gennady Golovkin and Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Conor McGregor. Opened in 2016, the arena sits on a 16-acre site and is one of the premier fight venues in the world. Tickets are available through AXS, the venue’s official ticketing partner.
Key Contenders
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, 34, is a three-division world champion who has found his best form at cruiserweight. A former WBO super middleweight titleholder (2016 to 2019) and the first Mexican boxer to win a major world title at both super middleweight and cruiserweight, Ramirez claimed the WBA cruiserweight belt from Arsen Goulamirian in March 2024, unified it with the WBO title by defeating Chris Billam-Smith in Riyadh in November 2024, and turned aside former IBF champion Yuniel Dorticos in June 2025. Standing 6ft 2.5in with a 75-inch reach, the southpaw from Mazatlan is a volume puncher who likes to work behind his jab and break opponents down over the championship rounds. His sole career defeat came against Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight in 2022.
David “El Monstro” Benavidez, 29, enters as the younger, harder-hitting challenger. He became the youngest super middleweight world champion in history when he won the WBC belt aged just 20 in 2017 by defeating Ronald Gavril. After twice holding and losing the WBC 168-pound title, Benavidez moved up to light heavyweight and captured both the WBA and WBC titles in 2025. He now makes a bold leap to cruiserweight, his third weight class, seeking a world title in a third division. At 31-0 with an 81% knockout rate, Benavidez is the bookmakers’ favourite at around 1/4, with Ramirez available at 5/2.
How to Watch
The fight will be broadcast live on PBC PPV via Amazon Prime Video, with the pay-per-view priced at approximately $75 to $85. DAZN will also distribute the PPV card, giving viewers an alternative streaming option. In the UK, fans can access the event through either Amazon Prime Video or DAZN, though the late start time means the main event will not begin until around 4:00 AM BST. There is no free-to-air coverage of the main card.
History and Records
This fight continues the proud tradition of major Mexican boxing showdowns on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas. The holiday weekend slot has historically been reserved for the sport’s biggest attractions, with previous headliners including Canelo Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Oscar De La Hoya, and Manny Pacquiao. Ramirez vs Benavidez is the first all-Mexican Cinco de Mayo cruiserweight title fight, adding a new chapter to this tradition. Ramirez, who turned professional in 2009, brings nearly 17 years of professional experience to the ring, while Benavidez’s record as the youngest ever WBC super middleweight champion at 20 years and 265 days remains a Guinness World Record.
Undercard
The PPV card features several compelling supporting bouts. In the co-main event, WBA super middleweight champion Armando “Toro” Resendiz defends his title against former world champion Jaime Munguia. The card also includes David Morrell Jr vs Radivoje Kalajdzic at light heavyweight, Oscar Duarte vs Angel Fierro in a 10-round super lightweight contest, and unbeaten rising star Isaac “Puro Mexico” Lucero against fellow undefeated Alan Sandoval at super welterweight.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for Ramirez vs Benavidez are available through AXS, the T-Mobile Arena’s official ticketing partner. Given the Cinco de Mayo weekend slot and the all-Mexican headliner, a near-capacity crowd of close to 20,000 is expected. Fans looking for tickets should purchase early, as major fight nights at the T-Mobile Arena routinely sell out.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Ramirez vs Benavidez start?
The PPV card begins at 8:00 PM ET on Saturday 2 May 2026, with the main event ringwalks expected at approximately 11:00 PM ET (4:00 AM BST on Sunday 3 May).
Where is Ramirez vs Benavidez being held?
The fight takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
How can I watch Ramirez vs Benavidez?
The event is available on PBC PPV via Amazon Prime Video and also through DAZN. It is a pay-per-view event with no free-to-air coverage.
What titles are on the line?
The WBA and WBO cruiserweight world championships are at stake, though the WBO’s sanctioning of the bout has been subject to a dispute.