Ramirez Calls Benavidez a More durable Struggle Than Opetaia

Gilberto Ramirez on Why Benavidez Is Completely different

Ramirez contrasted that type with Opetaia’s in unusually blunt phrases. Whereas acknowledging Opetaia’s capability, he described him as a fighter who takes possibilities reasonably than one who forces sustained work. “Opetaia, he takes some possibilities,” Ramirez mentioned. “David Benavidez, he’s pushing ahead on a regular basis.”

That distinction is necessary as a result of Opetaia is extensively seen because the division’s defining opponent, the fighter champions are anticipated to chase to show themselves. Ramirez didn’t dismiss him, however he separated hazard from popularity. In his view, strain wears champions down quicker than single moments of threat, and Benavidez applies it with out pause.

Ramirez additionally rejected the concept that weight can be a inbuilt benefit for him. He repeatedly described Benavidez as already too giant for gentle heavyweight. “He’s huge,” Ramirez mentioned. “I don’t understand how he was making 175. He has the scale to be a cruiserweight, even a heavyweight in the future.”

There was no suggestion that Benavidez’s transfer up would blunt his output or sluggish his tempo. If something, Ramirez spoke as if the change removes a limitation reasonably than introduces one.

That outlook helps clarify why the combat got here collectively rapidly. Ramirez mentioned the bout didn’t shock him and that discussions moved quick as soon as each side have been on board. “It was fairly fast, the dialogue and the deal,” he mentioned. “We have been engaged on it to make it occur.”

Notably, Ramirez made no try to level out technical flaws or previous moments of vulnerability in Benavidez’s resume. Requested what offers him the sting, his reply stayed easy. “I’m the champion,” he mentioned. “I prepare the precise means. I’m good, and I’m a warrior.”

A Champion’s Learn on the Danger

He additionally admitted he doesn’t obsessively research opponents. “I don’t watch that a lot boxing, truthfully,” Ramirez mentioned, framing his confidence as expertise primarily based reasonably than analytical.

Taken collectively, Ramirez’s feedback draw a transparent line. He isn’t treating Benavidez as a novelty challenger or a brief cease whereas ready on one other title. He’s figuring out him because the sort of opponent who creates actual issue at cruiserweight, the one who forces fixed work and refuses to let a combat sluggish.

In Ramirez’s telling, essentially the most demanding combat within the division just isn’t essentially the one everyone seems to be ready for. It’s the one which retains coming ahead till the top.