Gilberto Ramirez on Why Benavidez Is Totally different
Ramirez contrasted that type with Opetaia’s in unusually blunt phrases. Whereas acknowledging Opetaia’s means, he described him as a fighter who takes probabilities somewhat than one who forces sustained work. “Opetaia, he takes some probabilities,” 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 sooner than single moments of threat, and Benavidez applies it with out pause.
Ramirez additionally rejected the concept weight can be a inbuilt benefit for him. He repeatedly described Benavidez as already too massive for mild heavyweight. “He’s massive,” Ramirez mentioned. “I don’t understand how he was making 175. He has the scale to be a cruiserweight, even a heavyweight at some point.”
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 somewhat than introduces one.
That outlook helps clarify why the battle got here collectively shortly. Ramirez mentioned the bout didn’t shock him and that discussions moved quick as soon as either side had been on board. “It was fairly fast, the dialogue and the deal,” he mentioned. “We had 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 practice the correct approach. I’m sensible, and I’m a warrior.”
A Champion’s Learn on the Threat
He additionally admitted he doesn’t obsessively research opponents. “I don’t watch that a lot boxing, actually,” Ramirez mentioned, framing his confidence as expertise based mostly somewhat than analytical.
Taken collectively, Ramirez’s feedback draw a transparent line. He’s not treating Benavidez as a novelty challenger or a short lived cease whereas ready on one other title. He’s figuring out him because the type of opponent who creates actual problem at cruiserweight, the one who forces fixed work and refuses to let a battle sluggish.
In Ramirez’s telling, essentially the most demanding battle within the division will not be essentially the one everyone seems to be ready for. It’s the one which retains coming ahead till the tip.
