With the much sought-after fighting date on Cinco de Mayo weekend open due to Canelo Alvarez’s absence following elbow surgery, Benavidez decided to beef up 25 pounds and take on fellow Mexican and WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) and Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) have history — hundreds of rounds of sparring when they were younger. But is Benavidez biting off more than he can chew with plenty of unfinished business left at 175 pounds, where he still holds the WBC title?

“He’s a big guy as well and believes he’s ready at this weight. We will see,” Ramirez told The Ring following a recent workout at Brickhouse Boxing Club.

“I’m just as confident, and that’s why I took this fight. I’ve been training hard to beat Benavidez. I think I will have an advantage because I have been at this weight longer than him. I think it will be a great fight for both of us.”

Ramirez, a former 168-pound titleholder, is 4-0 as a cruiserweight since entering the class in 2023. He ended a six-fight stretch at 175 pounds without a belt after a unanimous-decision defeat to Bivol in 2022.

After his division debut against Joe Smith., Ramirez took the titles away from Arsen Goulamirian and Chris Billam-Smith in 2024 and defended the crowns against Yuniel Dorticos in June. Shoulder surgery that followed in July delayed his return to the ring.

Ramirez, 35, has looked more than comfortable at cruiserweight in the 48 rounds he’s fought while cruising to wins, but he hasn’t dropped or stopped anyone.

“Benavidez is bringing his aggression and forward style, and I am bringing my movement,” Ramirez said. “I think our styles will make for a great fight. I know that he works very hard, and I work just as hard. But it was different back then when we were sparring. Now my titles are on the line.”

Ramirez’s longtime head coach, Julian Chua, believes his charge will level up with the quality competition in front of him on the grand stage.

“We’re confident he’s going to rise to the occasion in this fight and do what’s necessary as the bigger man to beat Benavidez," Chua told The Ring.

The top storyline seems to surround that Ramirez’s size will certainly matter in the slugfest, just as much as Benavidez’s blistering hand speed and combinations will for “The Mexican Monster.”

Will the meeting be shades of targeting the wrong opponent at the wrong time for Benavidez?

That was the case for Alvarez when he moved up to 175 a second time to challenge Bivol rather than accept Benavidez's challenge, losing a clear decision to the Russian. Alvarez has since stepped down to his appropriate weight class and doesn’t seem inclined to campaign as a light heavyweight anytime soon.

For Benavidez, win or lose, boiling back down to 175 pounds could be asking for too much from his ever-growing body as he continues to carve his own lane. He boasts a big game, and rightfully so as The Ring’s No. 7 pound-for-pound fighter. He’s coming off a seventh-round stoppage win against Anthony Yarde in November.

But is he “Superman?” Benavidez might be on May 2, and it remains to be seen after that.

One significant instance when a “Superman” made a massive move in weight was when Roy Jones, then 34, stepped up from 175 pounds to heavyweight, beating John Ruiz in 2003. Jones’ career was never the same after that, however, when he stepped back down light heavyweight.

“I’m actually going to have to put on weight and muscle,” Benavidez said. “I’m not going to have to lose any weight. I don’t know how that feels yet, but I know that it’s going to feel good. I’m expecting the best version of myself in the fight.”

Benavidez is listed as a -390 favorite, and Ramirez is a +290 underdog, according to DraftKings.

Time will tell if Benavidez, 29, made the right move by barking up this tree after just three fights as a light heavyweight.

“You need to make sure that you’re ready to add this much weight to your body,” Ramirez said. “He’s the monster. He’s different. He used to beat up a lot of sparring partners. Now we’re here, two warriors making history. It should be a fight of the year.”

Prime Video and various cable and satellite operators will distribute the card headlined by Benavidez-Ramirez on pay-per-view in the United States for $79.99. It is also included for subscribers of DAZN’s Ultimate plan in the U.S. ($44.99 per month).

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan