Gilberto Ramirez has spoken out for the first time since his defeat to David Benavidez, confirming his plans for the future while addressing the elbow controversy that arose during their cruiserweight clash earlier this month.
Entering the fight as the defending unified champion, ‘Zurdo’ was stripped of his WBO and WBA world titles after being stopped in the sixth round. The decisive finish came from a relentless assault by Benavidez, who dropped Ramirez in the fourth round before claiming a three-division world championship.
Despite competing at 200lbs for the first time, ‘The Mexican Monster’ displayed exceptional composure and hand speed, causing a severe swelling over Ramirez’s right eye. To his credit, the Mexican warrior fought through the pain with tremendous heart, but was eventually overwhelmed by the naturally smaller man.
Following the bout, footage emerged showing Benavidez connecting with an elbow during an exchange, leading to a slow-motion clip circulating on social media. The 29-year-old has insisted the contact was accidental, though some observers have accused him of employing dirty tactics.
Ramirez, however, has urged fans not to diminish Benavidez’s achievement. In a social media post, he explained his intention to “come back stronger” while showing respect for his opponent.
“Saturday didn’t go the way I planned. The loss is painful – the hurt is real. But I’ll sit with it, learn from it, and come back stronger. This is not the end. I tip my hat to David… His success didn’t come overnight, and that only motivates me more. Don’t discredit what he brought — he was the better man that night and I have nothing but respect for him and his team for the preparation they put in. Elbow or no elbow, it’s a fight at the end of the night. If we ever share that ring again, I’ll be better prepared — and I will get my revenge. For now, I’m taking time with my family and enjoying the summer.”
At 34, it’s unclear what path lies ahead for Ramirez, with a rematch against Benavidez seeming unlikely. Meanwhile, the WBC light-heavyweight champion has initiated preliminary discussions for an undisputed showdown with Dmitry Bivol, who must first defeat mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 30.
