Jesse Hart warns David Benavidez ahead of his high-stakes showdown with Gilberto Ramirez, he urged ‘The Monster’ not to underestimate the Mexican champion’s punching power.
Benavidez is set to challenge Ramirez for the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on May 2 at the T-Mobile Arena, in what is widely regarded as one of the most intriguing fights of the year.
While much of the pre-fight narrative has focused on Benavidez’s aggressive style and volume punching, Hart believes the danger coming back the other way could be the deciding factor.
Speaking to Sean Zittel on his YouTube channel, Hart made it clear that while Benavidez may have certain advantages, Ramirez’s power cannot be overlooked.
“It’s gonna come down to who wants it more,” Hart told Sean Zittel on his YouTube channel. “I think Benavidez has the edge in hand speed and letting his hands go, but power? Don’t sleep on Gilberto Ramirez’s power. I’m not saying Benavidez can’t take it, but [Ramirez] can punch, and that’s something to look out for.”
Hart faced Ramirez twice in his career, first in 2017, where he lost via unanimous decision, and in the second, in 2018, he lost via majority decision.
The ‘Hard Work’ spoke from personal experience when describing the impact of the champion’s punches.
“That kid fractured my rib, and I was pissing blood the next morning. Zurdo Ramirez punches hard.”
The upcoming fight also raises questions about how Benavidez who is moving up in the weight and many analyst has raised questions about whether he will handle the move up in weight against a seasoned cruiserweight.
Hart questions Benavidez’s durability at cruiserweight
Hart pointed out that while Benavidez is known for his relentless combinations, the added size and strength at cruiserweight could affect his output.
“I want to see if Benavidez is gonna get those five and sixes off,” Hart said. “You’re gonna be stronger, but I wanna see if he can get those [punches] off carrying that extra weight around.”
Despite that, Hart’s warning suggests that the lack of stoppages does not accurately reflect Ramirez’s punching power, particularly over the course of a full fight.
Ramirez enters the bout with a perfect 4-0 record since moving up from light heavyweight, though he has yet to record a knockout in the division.
‘The Monster’ heads into the fight with a record of 31 wins, including 25 knockouts, underlining his finishing ability. In contrast, the champion holds a 48-1 record, with 30 victories coming by way of stoppage.
Both fighters have promised to provide an entertaining fight. That has further built anticipation for the fight. It remains to be seen who brings his better performance to the fight night on May 2.
