Mora says Zurdo doesn’t need tune-up for Benavidez

This period has created debate over whether Ramirez should reappear in a warm-up fight before facing one of the most physically demanding opponents of his career.

Those questions intensified earlier this winter when talk briefly emerged of a January fight against Robin Safar, a fight that was ultimately scrapped. The episode only added urgency to the tune-up conversation as Ramirez continued to recover while Benavidez’s date remained set.

Mora doesn’t see the dismissal as a reason for hesitation. Speaking on the YouTube Channeling Chris Mannix, Mora said Ramirez’s size and experience at cruiserweight gave him an advantage, even after surgery. He also highlighted the adjustments Ramirez has made since his loss to Dmitry Bivol in 2022.

Since that loss, Ramirez has fought with more movement and patience, relying less on sustained pressure and more on footwork and spacing. That change has been visible in his four fights since, and Mora believes it leaves him better positioned to deal with Benavidez’s aggressiveness and bulky striking style.

Mora also mentioned the importance of timing. A Cinco de Mayo weekend fight in Las Vegas brings exposure that’s hard to replace. From his perspective, delaying the fight or slowing down with a tune-up risks missing something. on this date.

Benavidez has already expressed interest in pursuing Artur Beterbiev after May. Mora suggested a loss elsewhere could dampen the appeal of a future meeting with Ramirez.

Mora ultimately sided with Ramirez, citing his natural size at cruiserweight and wondering how Benavidez would carry the extra 25 pounds. The real question is: Will Ramirez’s surgically repaired shoulder hold up?