Home/Articles/MMA
MMA·May 5, 2026 04:10 PM ET

Benavidez says he hurt every sparring partner, knew he could stop Zurdo

Benavidez touts power after Zurdo stoppage win.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated May 51 min read
Post on X
MMA
Video

What happened: David Benavidez told Ariel Helwani he hurt every sparring partner he has faced and knew he could stop Zurdo Ramirez based on those sessions. Benavidez said he landed the same combinations in the fight that had hurt Zurdo in sparring. The remarks follow his stoppage win over Zurdo Ramirez.

Why it matters: The comments reinforce Benavidez's case as boxing's top super middleweight and feed his ongoing pursuit of a Canelo Alvarez fight. They also drew pushback online, with at least one reply calling the sparring boast distasteful. Benavidez has separately named himself among the top three pound-for-pound fighters.

What to watch: Watch for Benavidez's next opponent announcement and whether Canelo Alvarez responds to the renewed callout. Reaction from Zurdo Ramirez's camp to the sparring claims is also worth monitoring.

Sources

More on David Benavidez

CONVERSATION
Loading comments…
MMAAnalysisDavid BenavidezZurdo Ramirez
Follow MMA Intelligence
Real-time signals and analysis
@WireReportMMA
WR Pro
The day's sports, briefed to your inbox at 7am ET. Every claim sourced.
$9/monthFree weekly newsletter →
RELATED STORIES
← Back to Wire Report