Benavidez Won Cruiserweight Gold and Called Out Canelo
David Benavidez knocked out Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez at 2:59 of round six on May 2, 2026, winning the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles. After the fight, Benavidez publicly asked for a matchup with Canelo Alvarez.
Two knockdowns changed the fight
Benavidez moved up to cruiserweight to challenge Ramirez, who held the WBA and WBO belts. The Las Vegas main event was scheduled for twelve rounds and headlined a PBC pay-per-view card at T-Mobile Arena.
Benavidez dictated much of the pace with high-volume combinations. He scored two knockdowns, with the second leaving Ramirez unable to continue, and referee Thomas Taylor stopped the bout late in the sixth round.
The official time was 2:59. The result made Benavidez a unified cruiserweight champion and a world titleholder in a third division.
The post-fight challenge
In his post-fight remarks, Benavidez asked the crowd whether it wanted to see a fight with Canelo. The callout followed his championship win; it was not an announced or negotiated bout.
The distinction matters because a challenge made in the ring does not confirm that the other fighter has accepted or that a contract exists. The verified development was Benavidez’s public callout after capturing the belts.
PBC’s official report confirms the knockouts, title stakes and Benavidez’s question about a Canelo fight. The Nevada commission and WBC also document the result, while later coverage described the callout.
Sources
- Premier Boxing Champions: official fight report and post-fight remarks
- Nevada commission: official result
- Sky Sports: post-fight callout coverage
