Terence Crawford was as impressed as any following David Benavidez’s historic win over Gilberto Ramirez.
Benavidez blasted through Ramirez in Las Vegas to become a three-weight world champion. Despite putting on over 20lbs since his last outing, the 29-year-old superstar managed to keep his blistering hand speed and looked as powerful as ever.
It was too much for ‘Zurdo’, who touched the canvas in the fourth and sixth rounds before being counted out, in part due to a severely swollen eye. It is his first stoppage defeat in a 50 fight career, and the most impressive win of Benavidez’s, who claimed the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles in the process.
Amongst those impressed was former pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford, who took to social media shortly after the win to praise ‘El Monstro’.
Congratulations @Benavidez300 good shit out there.
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) May 3, 2026
The Ramirez victory will shoot Benavidez up the pound-for-pound list in the eyes of many, pushing him closer to the top spot that Crawford so recently held.
The 38-year-old from Omaha retired late last year following a victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, the man Benavidez has been eager to fight for years now and whom he called out post-fight.
Canelo was ringside earlier in the night to support Jaime Munguia, but notably left before the main event. Fans – and Benavidez – will take it as a signal that the fight, despite renewed interest, is as unlikely to happen as ever.
Instead, the new unified champion at cruiserweight is expected to drop back down to light-heavyweight, where he still holds the WBC title, to pursue an undisputed clash with Dmitry Bivol – another man who has beaten Canelo.