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Natural Growth Major Reason For Gilberto Ramirez Moving
Up To Cruiserweight Division
At the age of 32 and coupled with 14 years as a professional
boxer, natural growth has forced former world super
middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30
KOs) to move up in weight to the cruiserweight division from
light heavyweight.
“Zurdo” will make his cruiserweight debut on October 7th
versus former world light heavyweight champion Joe “The
Common Man” Smith, Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs) at a 190-pound
catchweight, headlining a Golden Boy Promotions event to be
streamed live on DAZN from The Chelsea inside The
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Ramirez, fighting out of Mazatlán, Mexico, has simply
outgrown the 175-pound weight class. In several of his most
recent fights, “Zurdo” has entered the ring nearing just shy
of 200-pounds, despite officially making weight the day
before.
“This fight marks my move up to the cruiserweight division,”
Ramirez explained. “This decision is based on a combination
of factors that my team and I carefully considered. One of
the main reasons is my natural growth and development as an
athlete. As I’ve progressed during my career, I’ve gained
muscle mass and strength, making it more suitable for me to
compete in the cruiserweight division.
“Additionally, we believe that this move will provide
exciting new challenges and opportunities for me. The
cruiserweight division is known for its competitive and
diverse talent pool, and I’m eager to test my skills against
opponents with different styles and strengths. This
transition also aligns with my long-term goals in the sport,
and I’m confident that I’ll be able to make a positive
impact in this new weight class. I’ve worked closely with my
coaches and trainers to ensure a smooth transition in terms
of training, strategy, and overall preparation. While it is
a new chapter in my career, I’m embracing the change and
looking forward to proving myself at cruiserweight.”
Ramirez hasn’t fought since his unsuccessful challenge last
November against World Boxing Association (WBA) Light
Heavyweight Champion Dmitriy Bivol (20-0), dropping a
12-round unanimous decision in Abu Dhabi. “Zurdo” was
scheduled to fight March 18th as a light heavyweight versus
Gabe Rosado, but their fight was canceled when Ramirez came
in overweight.
Rather than take a tune-up fight in his new weight class,
“Zurdo” will take on Smith, who has defeated Bernard
Hopkins, Andrzej Fonfara and Eleider Alvarez, among the more
notables. The dangerous New Yorker from Long Island has
stopped 22 of the 28 opponents he has defeated to date.
“I have nothing but respect for Joe,” Ramirez said. “He is a
hard hitter and former world champion. But when I made this
move to cruiserweight, I specifically asked my promoter for
the toughest guys in the division to create a path to a
world title fight. I’m a fighter and there has never been a
fight I’ve dodged or turned down in my career and this is no
different.
“Of course, any fight at this level will definitely shape
the future and the next possible steps. I know how hard the
stakes are and I want to prove to myself that I can be a
world champion in this division.”
Ramirez was still highly rated as a light heavyweight when
he announced his decision to campaign as a cruiserweight:
The Ring #4, WBO #6, and WBA #7.
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