Hall of Famers Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr. welcome Mexico’s first-ever cruiserweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez ahead of his Cinco de Mayo showdown with David Benavidez at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, May 2 (live on PBC Prime Video PPV). Zurdo opens up about the pay-per-view-level sparring sessions he shared with Benavidez, admits Benavidez has “weaknesses” he’s been studying in the gym, and breaks down how he plans to fight a volume puncher without matching him punch-for-punch. This is a Mexico vs Mexico fight for Cinco de Mayo — the holiday Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez held hostage for a decade.

Roy Jones Jr. delivers an untold story about why he refused to spar the #1 ranked Reggie Johnson in 1991 — the “I’m not teaching you anything” rule that shaped his entire career — and Andre Ward pulls back the curtain on his Super Six standoff with Andre Dirrell and why he had to “love him from a distance.” Plus: Andre’s honest assessment of Benavidez’s move up to cruiserweight, the riddle Zurdo has to solve that nobody else has, and why Benavidez gets the 60/40 edge heading into fight week.

0:00 - Intro
0:26 - Welcoming Zurdo Ramirez — Mexico’s First Cruiserweight Champion
1:06 - Zurdo on Fighting for Cinco de Mayo (After Mayweather & Canelo)
1:49 - How the Benavidez Fight Got Made
2:11 - The PPV Sparring Sessions with Benavidez
3:33 - Benavidez’s Strengths: Pressure, Volume & Power
3:59 - Zurdo Admits Benavidez Has Weaknesses (But Won’t Say What)
5:27 - Training at 34 — Is Zurdo Still in His Prime?
6:07 - The Julian Chula Relationship & Game Plan
9:46 - Zurdo’s Message to Benavidez & the Boxing World
10:10 - Ad Break
11:28 - Ward & RJJ Debate: Will Benavidez Carry His Weight at Cruiser?
13:36 - The Riddle Nobody Has Solved: Benavidez’s Unbeaten Blueprint
14:06 - RJJ’s Untold Story: Why He Refused to Spar Reggie Johnson in 1991
17:35 - Ward: Why He Kept His Distance from Fighters He Might Face
22:12 - Ward’s Full Breakdown of Benavidez vs. Zurdo
25:22 - Shoutout: Ayahna Gonzales & Combat U at Sacramento State
27:00 - Outro

Hall of Famers Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr. welcome Mexico&rsquo;s first-ever cruiserweight world champion Gilberto &ldquo;Zurdo&rdquo; Ramirez ahead of his Cinco de Mayo showdown with David Benavidez at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, May 2 (live on PBC Prime Video PPV). Zurdo opens up about the pay-per-view-level sparring sessions he shared with Benavidez, admits Benavidez has &ldquo;weaknesses&rdquo; he&rsquo;s been studying in the gym, and breaks down how he plans to fight a volume puncher without matching him punch-for-punch. This is a Mexico vs Mexico fight for Cinco de Mayo &mdash; the holiday Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez held hostage for a decade. Roy Jones Jr. delivers an untold story about why he refused to spar the #1 ranked Reggie Johnson in 1991 &mdash; the &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not teaching you anything&rdquo; rule that shaped his entire career &mdash; and Andre Ward pulls back the curtain on his Super Six standoff with Andre Dirrell and why he had to &ldquo;love him from a distance.&rdquo; Plus: Andre&rsquo;s honest assessment of Benavidez&rsquo;s move up to cruiserweight, the riddle Zurdo has to solve that nobody else has, and why Benavidez gets the 60/40 edge heading into fight week.
0:00 - Intro 0:26 - Welcoming Zurdo Ramirez &mdash; Mexico&rsquo;s First Cruiserweight Champion 1:06 - Zurdo on Fighting for Cinco de Mayo (After Mayweather &amp; Canelo) 1:49 - How the Benavidez Fight Got Made 2:11 - The PPV Sparring Sessions with Benavidez 3:33 - Benavidez&rsquo;s Strengths: Pressure, Volume &amp; Power 3:59 - Zurdo Admits Benavidez Has Weaknesses (But Won&rsquo;t Say What) 5:27 - Training at 34 &mdash; Is Zurdo Still in His Prime? 6:07 - The Julian Chula Relationship &amp; Game Plan 9:46 - Zurdo&rsquo;s Message to Benavidez &amp; the Boxing World 10:10 - Ad Break 11:28 - Ward &amp; RJJ Debate: Will Benavidez Carry His Weight at Cruiser? 13:36 - The Riddle Nobody Has Solved: Benavidez&rsquo;s Unbeaten Blueprint 14:06 - RJJ&rsquo;s Untold Story: Why He Refused to Spar Reggie Johnson in 1991 17:35 - Ward: Why He Kept His Distance from Fighters He Might Face 22:12 - Ward&rsquo;s Full Breakdown of Benavidez vs. Zurdo 25:22 - Shoutout: Ayahna Gonzales &amp; Combat U at Sacramento State 27:00 - Outro

THE ART OF WARD is a series hosted by Boxing Hall of Famer and Chief Content Officer for ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT Andre Ward exploring the fight game from the inside out. THE ART OF WARD series is a tapestry of thoughtful content showcasing Ward’s personal, unmatched perspective shaped by his evolution as a fighter, a man and an influential figure in combat sports.

A series hosted by Hall of Fame boxing legend, Andre Ward exploring the fight game from the inside out.

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Zurdo Ramirez: Benavidez’s Weaknesses, Their Sparring War & Mexico vs Mexico on May 2

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f62c3419-5da4-4d25-a031-b4330170504a/transcript