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Gilberto Ramirez has fought as mild as 158½ kilos. Now he’s speaking about shifting as much as heavyweight quickly.
Sure, “Zurdo” is attempting to observe within the footsteps of such legends as Bob Fitzsimmons, Floyd Patterson and Roy Jones Jr., comparatively small, however gifted and decided males who completed nice issues within the highest weight lessons.
His subsequent problem comes Friday at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, the place he’ll problem 200-pound beltholder Arsen Goulamirian in a bid to turn into the primary Mexican cruiserweight champion (DAZN).
“It’s an honor to have the ability to be the primary occasion at YouTube Theater and make a press release and probably turn into a legend. That is my motivation,” Ramirez mentioned.
Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) had recognized nothing however success in opposition to stable opposition till a yr and a half in the past. The now-32-year-old southpaw shut out Arthur Abraham to turn into the primary Mexican to win a 168-pound title in 2016 and in addition twice beat Jesse Hart at that weight.
He moved as much as 175 in 2019 and took down a sequence of succesful opponents, together with Sullivan Barrera and Yunieski Gonzalez.
Then got here catastrophe. He challenged 175-pound beltholder and pound-for-pounder Dmitry Bivol and was outclassed in November 2022, dropping a one-sided sided choice and far of the luster on his resume.
Following that he missed weight by a whopping 7.6 kilos for a 175-pound bout with Gabriel Rosado that was canceled in March of final yr, additional damaging his popularity.
His subsequent transfer was apparent: Transfer as much as cruiserweight. And his alternative of opponent was intelligent: Joe Smith Jr., a widely known former 175-pound beltholder who additionally was shifting up in weight. They agreed on a 193-pound catch weight.
The end result acquired Ramirez shifting in the fitting course as soon as once more. A superb technician, he outboxed the highly effective, however restricted Smith to win 9 out of the ten rounds on all three playing cards.
The victory earned him a shot at Goulamirian (27-0, 19 KOs), a Frenchman who has fought as soon as in four-plus years however has capability and has fought at 200 kilos his complete profession.
Ramirez instructed RingTV.com that he’s now a pure 200-pounder.
“I really feel nice at this new weight class,” he instructed the outlet. “It’s my pure weight and there’s not an excessive amount of reducing. I stroll round at 210, 215 all yr spherical, so making 200 is a breeze in comparison with 175 or 168.
“After shifting up within the weight class, I’ve been engaged on my energy and boxing. I really feel the work that I put will permit me to be sturdy in pocket and commerce any pictures with him. My general energy and talent set would be the distinction.”
Ramirez’s objective is to do what he couldn’t do at 175, win a serious title, after which go on to even greater and higher issues.
“The one factor I do know is that he has what I need (the WBA cruiserweight title) and I’m going to take it,” he mentioned. “I’m right here to remain and conquer the division earlier than shifting as much as the heavyweight division.
“I do know there isn’t too many fighters my measurement from my nation, so I’ve to signify effectively. Viva Mexico!”
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