By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS —David Benavidez promised dominance. He promised to seize a Cinco de May torch that has belonged to Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.

For one night, the dominance was there.

So, too was that torch, which Benavidez grabbed with the fastest hands in a dangerous business. It belonged to him Saturday night and perhaps in future years after he claimed a third title in a third division with a sixth-round knockout of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Benavidez, born-and-forged in Phoenix, is the first in history to win titles at 168 pounds, 175 and 200. In effect, he took the snoozer out of cruiser with hands that move at a rocket rate.

“Speed, power and punch selection,” Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) said.”That’s what I do. I’ll fight anybody. Don’t efff with me.”

Zurdo (48-2, 30 KOs) tried. But he had no way of dealing with Benavidez’ singular hand speed. HIs trademark flurries are a blitzkrieg. They overwhelm.

In the fourth round, Zurdo saw it coming at him from angles he never expected. His only escape was to take a knee. A storm shelter wasn’t available. He would got back onto his feet, blood smeared across his nose and both cheeks.

All the while, Zurdo tried to subdue Benavidez with his bigger body and advertised power. 

Benavidez answered the opening bell, looking smaller and somewhat cautious. Within the first round’s final minute, however, he landed the first significant punch, a short right hand. Zurdo countered. Then, however, Benavidez unleashed one of  those swirling, blinding flurries, It was a sign of things to come.

In the second, Zurdo introduced Benavidez to some of that power. It was enough to back Bhim up a step or two. But Zurdo would quickly discover there was nothing he could do to slow down  those hands

In the final second of the sixth, he encountered them again. Still, no counter. This time, the punches cascaded off of Zurdo’s face like incoming waves. Blood poured from his left eye. The right began to swell and take on the color of a purple grape. With one second left in the sixth, it was over. Cinco de Mayo, 2026, officially belonged to Benavidez, who stood in the middle of the ring and repeated his long-standing challenge to Canelo Alvarez, the last man to possess the valuable date..

There was no immediate answer from Canelo, who was at ringside. Then again, Canelo had just witnessed another reason nobody has been able to beat Benavidez, who — hands down — possesses the most devastating weapon in the prizefighting business.

Munguia wins belt, scores dominant decision

Jaime Munguia promised he would return to Tijuana with a title.

Promise fulfilled.

Munguia (46-3, 35 KOs) is homeward bound with a World Boxing Association super-middleweight belt in his bags after he easily beat Armando Resendiz ((48-2, 30 KOs)with superior hand speed, precision and even some surprising endurance.Saturday in the final fight before the David Benavidez-Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez main event at T-Mobile Arena.

For all but the final seconds of the final round, the fight was a mismatch. Put it this way: Munguia dominated Resendiz the way Canelo Alvarez dominated Munguia two years ago. Canelo was there, seated at ringside in support of Munguia. Canelo, who wore a T-shirt that said Jaime, is trained by Eddy Reynoso, who also trains Munguia, who left the ring amid a chorus of Cinco de Mayo cheers.

Within the first few moments, it was clear that Resendiz never had a chance. The scorecards would confirm that. It was Munguia –117-111, 119-109, 120-108. Only in the final seconds did it ever look as if Resendiz, a fellow Mexican, had a chance. 

Munguia was attempting to score a knockout. He swung wildly, leaving himself open. That’s when Resendiz landed a huge overhand right. But Munguia withstood it. Seconds later, he had his promised belt. 

Duarte wins controversial split decision

It began in controversy.

It ended in controversy.

For the winner, there were boos, lots of them.

Oscar Duarte heard them after he was given a split decision over Angel Fierro Saturday night on a Cinco de Mayo card featuring David Benavidez against Zurdo Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena.

“I thought I won this fight,” Duarte (31-2-1, 23 KOs) said. “I believe I won this fight.”

But the chorus of boos said loudly that many didn’t agree. Fierro looked to be in control early. Then, Duarte fought his way back over the final few rounds. Two cards had it for Duarte, 115-113 and 116-112. The third had it 116-112 for Fierro, The Boxing Hour scored it a draw.

Fierro, who was three-plus pounds over the 140-pound mandatory Friday, rocked Duarte repeatedly in the early rounds with a right, a lightning bolt of a punch. Fierro also got floored after the bell ending the fourth. But that right continued to land over the next couple of rounds.

Jose Tito Sanchez wakes up crowd, scores stoppage 

A restless, late-arriving crowd finally got a wake up call, delivered by Jose Tito Sanchez.

Sanchez (16-0, 10 KOs) threw a succession of powerful combinations that put Jorge Chavez down twice in the 10th, a round that finally got  fans out of their seats Saturday at T-Mobile Arena Saturday night on the Benavidez-Zurdo card.

After seven slow-paced bouts on the undercard, Sanchez struck. Suddenly, the crowd roared. It was as if Cinco de Mayo had finally arrived. Only Chavez (18-1-1, 14 KOs), a junior-featherweight from Tijuana, didn’t celebrate. 

First ,a five-punch combo dropped him flat on the canvas. Somehow, he got upright. But not for long. Sanchez, of Cathedral City CA,  quickly followed with another multi-punch combo, finishing Chavez at 2:30 of the 10th.

Ismael Flores scores 154-pound upset

Ismael Flores combined pressure to poise and added just enough patience to a thorough attack that left Isaac Lucero with only one option.

He backpedaled, backpedaled all the way into a  one-sided scorecard loss Saturday on the card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo Saturday at T-Mobile Arena

Flores (18-1-1, 12 KOs), a junior-middleweight from Argentina, sustained his tactical mix throughout 10 rounds, scoring a 98-92, 99-91, 98-92 upset of the favored Mexican, (18-1, 14 KOs), a 9-to-1 betting favorite at opening bell.

Blancas ices Salomon, wins decision

Daniel Blancas calls himself “The Ice Man.” Raul Salomon found out why.

Blancos, still an unbeaten (15-0, 7 KOs) super-middleweight from Milwaukee, repeatedly stopped Salomon’s forward pursuit throughout most of a hard-fought 10 rounds on Benavidez-Zurdo card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. 

It often looked as if the chilling sting in Blanco’s pouches froze Salomon (16-4-1, 14 KOs) in his tracks, leaving the Southern California fighter without many alternatives in a unanimous-decision loss

Capetillo escapes with narrow decision

Dylan Capetillo, a Las Vegas junior-welterweight, scored repeatedly throughout three-plus rounds and then held onto his scorecard advantage, eluding a late charge from James Pierce for a narrow decision Saturday in the fifth bout on a pay-per-view card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo Saturday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Capetillo won 39-37 on all three cards over Pierce (2-1, 2 KOs), a Phoenix fighte

Carrillo stays unbeaten, delivers body-shot KO

It only takes one punch and Jose Carrillo, of Colombia, threw it, a lethal body shot that sent Marlon Delgado onto the canvas and kept him there for a fifth-round knockout in the fourth bout Saturday on the card featuring Benavidez-Zurdo at T-Mobile Arena..

The punch suddenly reversed Carrillo’s fortunes. Through four rounds, Carrillo (15-0, 11 KOs) was losing to a more active and precise Delgado, an Ecuadorian who lost for the first time in nine light-heavyweight bouts (8-1, 6 KOs).

No knockdowns, no winner either

There were no knockdowns. No cuts or bruising punches..

In the end, there was no winner either.

Julio Ocampo Hernandez, a Washington fighter who trains at David Benavidez’ Seattle gym, and Carlos Lewis, of Oklahoma City, fought to a draw in the third bout on the Benavidez-Zurdo-featured card Saturday.

Neither lightweight could gain much of an advantage throughout the six rounds.One judge scored 58-56 for Hernandez (9-0-1, 5 KOs). One judge scored 58-56 for Lewis (5-1-1, 3 KOs). On the third scorecard, it was 55-55.

Junior-welterweight Javier Meza dominates, wins TKO

Junior welterweight Javier Meza had more hand speed, more power, more accuracy.

More of everything.

Meza (6-0, 3 KOs) overwhelmed Damonte Smith (3-1, 1 KO), an Iowa fighter was knocked down twice in the fourth and was finished, a TKO victim, in the fifth round of the second fight on the Benavidez-Zurdo card Saturday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena.

First Bell: Middleweight Khamukov delivers opening salvo, wins decision

Sometime between brunch and lunch, the show opened in a ring with more people within the ropes than in the seats.

About eight hours before David Benavidez and Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez would enter the ring, middleweights Petr Khamukov (14-1,6 KOs) of Los Angeles and Bernard Joseph of Massachusetts got things started in an empty T-Mobile Arena.

With punches echoing throughout the venue, a more aggressive Khamukov, prevailed winning a 10-round unanimous decision, 99-91, 98-92, 99-91.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. took out Erickson Lubin in round two of a 12-round WBC Interim Super Welterweight bout at Dickie Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

After a feeling-out first round, Ortiz pinned Lubin on the ropes and landed six short shots which was highlighted by a right around the gloves to the head and a left hook to the jaw that completely froze Lubin on the ropes and the fight was stopped before Lubin could get seriously hurt at 1:30.

Ortiz, 153.8 lbs of Grand Prairie, TX is 24-0 with 22 knockouts. Lubin, 154 lbs of Kissimmee, FL is 27-3,

After the fight, Ortiz and Jaron “Boots” Ennis confronted each other and stared down which will hopefully set up a huge fight between the two that will take place in the first quarter of 2026.

“There wasn’t much to evaluate — I just capitalized on his mistakes. I took as much information as I could and used it. The adjustments I made in the second round were to just be cautious. I’m patient,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr.

“I feel people think I’m just a come-forward fighter. Yeah, I’m a come-forward fighter — I love the fight. That’s why I’m in boxing. But you have to be smart too, and I can be smart when I want. I kind of felt I would dominate Lubin, but I just had to believe in myself, and that’s what I did. There were so many people saying I was going to get gassed or that he was going to knock me out. Look, he’s a great fighter, but there are levels to this.”

“This win motivated me a lot. We’re ready for the best — we’re going to fight the best. Boots, come over here!”

Fulghum and Stevens Fight to Draw

Darius Fulghum and David Stevens fought to a 10-round majority draw in a super middleweight bout.

Scores were 96-94 for Fulghum and 95-95 twice.

Fulghum landed 99 of 359 punches. Stevens was 97 of 414.

Fulghum, 167.8 lbs of Houston is 14-1-1. Stevens, 168 lbs of Reading, PA is 15-2-1.

Safar Decisions Miller

In a battle of undefeated cruiserweight, Robin Safar won a 10-round unanimous decision over Derrick Miller Jr.

At the very end of round two, Safar tried to headbutt Miller and he was deducted a point.

Safar, 199.8 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 99-90 twice and 98-81 and is now 19-0. Miller, 197.6 lbs of Monroe, MI is 18-1

Eric Priest and Esneiker Correa battled to a eight-round draw in a middleweight bout.

Priest won a card 79-73; Correa took a card 77-75 and a third card was even at 76-76.

Priest, 160.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 16-0-1. Correa, 159.6 lbs of Miami us 16-6-3.

Javier Meza won a six-round unanimous decision over Joshua Briones in a welterweight bout.

Meza, 142 lbs of Amarillo, TX won by scores of 59-55 and 58-56 twice and is now 5-0. Briones, 141.2 lbs of El Paso, TX is 3-5-1.

Sam Castellanos stopped Ricardo Elizalde in round two of their four-round super welterweight clash.

Castellanos scored a knockdown in round two and the bout was stopped at 1:55 when the corner of Elialde stopped the bout,

Castellanos, 152,2 lbs of Gilroy, CA is 4-0 with tree knockouts, Elizalde, 153 lbs of Tulsa, OK is 0-2.

Eric Tudor won a 10-round unanimous decision over Kevin Johnson in a welterweight bout at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California

In round seven, Tudor began to bleed from around left eye.

Tudor, 146 1/2 lbs of Long Beach, California won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 and is now 13-1. Johnson, 145 1/2 lbs of Las Vegas is now 12-6.

Ricardo Robledo remained undefeated with an eight-round majority decision over Dante Ettore in a welterweight bout.

Robledo, 143 1/4 lbs won by scores of 78-73, 78-74 and 76-76 and is now 11-0. Ettore, 145 lbs of Las Vegas is 11-2-2.

Javier Meza remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Luciano Ramos in a junior welterweight bout.

Meza, 142 3/4 lbs of Amarillo, TX won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 3-0. Ramos, 142 3/4 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 2-10.

Ray Cano and Larry Serrano Romero fought to a four-round majority draw in a bantamweight contest…

Scores were 40-36 for Romero and 38-38 twice.

Cano, 117 1/2 lbs of Riverside, CA was making his pro debut. Serrano, 177 lbs of South Central Los Angeles is 3-4-2.

Danilo Diaz stopped Giovanni Gonzalez in round two of their four-round junior welterweight bout.

The time of the stoppage was 2:55 of round two for Diaz, 139 3/4 lbs of Miami who is now 3-0 with one knockout. Gonzalez, 133 3/4 lbs of Caracas, VEN is 2-7.

Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel entertained and delivered, yet after 36 grueling minutes neither could claim victory as the nip and tuck welterweight battle ended in a 12-round majority draw at in Ontario, California.

Both guys had plenty of moments taking the lead in the fight as the both landed plenty of head and body flurries. The fighters took turns taking rounds as it was a nip-and-tuck battle throughout.

Rocha landed 205 of 818 punches. Curiel was 232 of 731.

In the end, Rocha won a scorecard by a 116-112 tally while the two others were evened up at 114-114.

Rocha of Santa Ana, CA is 25-5-1. Curiel of Los Angeles is 15-0-1.

“I want to run this fight back again and then hopefully fight for a world title,” said Rocha. “I know I did enough to win. The rounds were very close; unfortunately, tonight didn’t go my way. I want the rematch — it was a fun fight, and I want to do it again.”

“I definitely felt like I had done what I had to do to win the fight,” said Curiel. “I’m sure he would say the same. At the end of the day, the fans are the best judges, and based on the crowd’s reactions, they won tonight. I hope we can run it back again next year. For now, I want to enjoy the holidays with my family.”

Conwell Knocks Out Vegara in 7

In a battle of undefeated junior middleweights, Charles Conwell stopped Gerardo Vegara in round seven of their 10-round bout.

Vegara dominated the action and bloodied Vegara in round five. In round seven, Conwell hurt Vegara with a left hook and opened up a vicious eight=punch flurry that featured several more hard left hook and the fight was stopped at 2:51.

Conwell, 153.8 lbs of Cleveland is 21-0 with 16 knockouts. Vegara, 152.8 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 20-1.

Scrappy Ramirez Decisions Bui

John Ramirez won a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Epharim Bui in a super flyweight bout.

In round four, Bio was bleeding under his right eye.

Ramirez landed 176 of 601 punches. Bui was 175 of 705.

Ramirez, 114 1/2 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 97-93 on all cards and is now 14-1. Bui, 113 3/4 lbs of Sugarland, TX is 10-1.

Marlen Esparza Decisions Arely Mucino

In a battle of former world champions, Marlen Esparza won a 10-round unanimous decision over Arely Mucino in a super flyweight bout.

Esparza landed 146 of 460 punches. Mucino 113 of 486.

Esparza who missed the flyweight limit weight and came in at 114 lbs and the Houston native won by scores od 98-92 twice and 97-93 and is now 15-2. Mucino, 111.1 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 32-5-2.

Victor Morales Stops Guardado Due Eye Injury

Victor Morales remained undefeated by stopping Ivan Guardado due to a swollen eye in round eight of their 10-round junior lightweight bout.

In round one, Guardado was cut under his left eye.

Just as the bell sounded for round eight, the right eye of Guardado was swelling badly. The ringside doctor spent several minutes test out Guardado and then pulled Guardado out of the fight.

Morales, 131 lbs of Vancouver, WA is now 20-0-1 with 10 knockouts. Guardado, 131 lbs of Ensanada, MEX is 16-3-1.

Jorge Chavez remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Ruben Casero in a super bantamweight bout.

In round one, Chavez landed a big right that sent Casero down. Chavez dropped Casero again at the end of the frame. Casero was bleeding from around the right eye as early as round four.

Chavezm 121 1/2 lbs of Tijuana MEX won by scores of 80-70 and is now 13-0. Casero, 121 1/4 lbs of Uruguay is 12-4.

Ricardo Ruvalcaba remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Jabin Chollet in a welterweight contest.

Ruvalcaba, 144 3/4 lbs of Ventura, CA won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 13-0-1. Chollet, 145 lbs of San Diego is now 10-2.

Gael Cabrera stopped Garen Diagan in round two of their six-round super bantamweight fight.

In round two, Cabrera landed a big left right on the nose for a knockdown. When Diagan got to his feet, Diagan did not look like he could continue and the fight was stopped at 2:59.

Cabrera of Sonora, MEX is 6-0 with four knockouts. Diagan, 121 1/2 lns of General Santos City, PHL is 10-6.

Uhilices Reyes scored a shocking second round stoppage over previously undefeated Joshua Garcia in a six-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Reyes rocked Garcia with a left hook and had Garcia stumbling around and eating punches. Reyes continued to flurry and dropped Garcia. Halfway through round two, Reyes landed a booming left that was followed by a right and Garcia was dropped again. Reyes continued to the assault was Garcia was administered a third count and the fight was waved off at 2:04.

Reyes, 132 1/2 lbs of Omaha, NE is 3-1 with two knockouts. Garcia, 134 1/4 lbs of Moreno Valley, CA is 9-1.

Fabian Guzman stopped Travis Floyd in round two of their four-round middleweight bout.

In round two, Guzman dropped Floyd with a right hook as Floyd was walking in. Guzman continues to pound on Floyd until the bout was stopped at 2:28.

Guzman, 158 1/2 lbs of Orange, CA is 6-0 with six knockouts. Floyd, 154 1/2 lbs is now 4-12-2.

Javier Meza made a successful pro debut with an opening round stoppage over David Music in a junior welterweight bout.

Early in round one, Meza dropped Music with an overhand right. Later in the round, Meza landed a huge flurry in the corner that forced a referee stoppage at 2:59.

Meza, 140 1/4 lbs of Amarillo, TX is 1-0 with one knockout. Music, 141 1/2 lbs of Findlay, OH is 1-1.