Boxing
David Benavidez details the 'happiest' training camp of his career
Benavidez vs. Zurdo: Watch on DAZN PPV - Saturday
When talking to boxers before their fight, more often than not, they say it's been the best training camp of their lives. If they end up losing, the script is flipped, and they explain why it was the worst camp.
But in talking to David Benavidez nine days ago before Saturday's DAZN PPV headliner against WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion Zurdo Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs), I could see and hear genuine excitement in the "Mexican Monster's" words and facial expressions.
For once, Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) didn't look weight-drained in having to make either 168 or 175 pounds. One could see joy and genuine happiness, which is something extremely rare in the days away from a fight with such significant stakes. Benavidez was already under the 200-pound weight limit, and without a care in the world, it seemed like. It's fair to say this training camp has been one that's arguably the greatest of the two-division world champion's career.
"I have my straight conditioning trainer. We've had a great training camp," Benavidez admits to DAZN News. "I've been training since January. So I have almost five months of training, and everything is good. I feel like this is a sweet spot where I'm at right now. I've been on weight. I hit weight a couple of days ago, and not even trying. So I feel like just the way it was coming off on its own. I already built the muscle. I have the stamina. I'm going to have the speed. I have the power. I feel really good right now.
"I trained three times a day for this camp. I ran 200 miles. We sparred maybe 200 rounds. We've been training every day. I've been training like a dog. It's not an easy training camp, but it is a carefree training camp, and it's probably been the happiest training camp in my life up to this point."
Because of the way he's done his entire training camp, Benavidez feels that will prove to be the ultimate difference on Saturday night from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and walk out the unified cruiserweight champion.
"I started to camp at 210," Benavidez said. "So I mean from the period of like four months, it's just been coming down on its own. We've been building the muscle and all that. There is no weight cut. It's just been training and getting ready for the fight. No weight cut. I've never felt something like this. I feel like this is going to be the extra energy. I have that. I usually waste that on the weight cuts. I'm going to be able to go into the reserve and that is going to make the biggest difference in this fight."
Benavidez vs. Zurdo on DAZN PPV
Watch David Benavidez versus Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez on DAZN PPV this Saturday, May 2. Buy as a one-off PPV or get it included with the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription, which also includes the Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), Usyk vs. Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13), and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs without any extra one-off costs.
For pricing, more information, and to sign up to watch, click here.
