By Norm Frauenheim
LAS VEGAS – Belts and acronyms are at stake, but a date matters the most to David Benavidez’ in his upscale move to prove he’s the undisputed face of the game.
Ownership of that date, Cinco de Mayo, is there, up-for-grabs on May 2 in an intriguing fight against cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
It’s been there, vacant and valuable, ever since a masterful Terence Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez in September. Crawford retired; Canelo abandoned the date amid plans for a comeback in September.
For Benavidez, just the chance to claim the date is an opportunity to kick his career into prime time.
“That date doesn’t belong to just one fighter,’’ Benavidez said at a formal news conference announcing the Zurdo bout early Saturday, just hours before the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios fight at nearby T-Mobile Arena.
No, but it does belong to a long list of legends.
“Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Canelo,’’ Benavidez, a Phoenix born-and forged fighter, said to an audience that included De La Hoya, Zurdo’s promoter. “It’s for the best fighter of his time.’’
Benavidez, still a light-heavyweight champion, thinks his time is approaching. A definitive victory over Zurdo during the first weekend in May would serve as a sure sign that it is.
For Benavidez’ trainer and dad, the opportunity also serves as motivation for his son to deliver the kind of performance that will ensure an encore.
“We’re not going to let anyone take it from us,’’ Jose Sr. said.
Zurdo, of course, has other plans. He knows Benavidez. Since 2016, they’ve sparred about 100 rounds.
“Pay-per-view rounds,’’ Zurdo trainer Julian Chua said during the newser for a bout that will be streamed by Amazon Prime Video.
There’s some debate about how the rounds went.
“I hurt him,’’ Benavidez said. “He might not say that, but I know he knows. But I also remember that through all that sparring I once told him that one day we’re going to do this on pay-per-view.’’
Turns out, it’ll happen on boxing’s biggest day.