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Gilberto Ramirez vs. Joe Smith Jr.
Clash In Cruiserweight Debut Oct. 7
Former World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30
KOs) will make his grand debut in the cruiserweight division
and measure up against former light heavyweight World
Champion Joe “Common Man” Smith Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs) of Long
Island, New York on Saturday, October 7. The 12-round clash,
presented in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing,
will take place live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of
Las Vegas and live around the world on DAZN.
The former WBO Super Middleweight World Champion, Gilberto
“Zurdo” Ramirez will be looking to make a statement and
demonstrate he has the bravado to become a two-division
titleholder. With nearly 15-years of professional
experience, he embarked on a career that would see him
defeating the likes of Maxim Vlasov, Jessie “Hard Work” Hart
and “King” Arthur Abraham, whom he defeated to become the
WBO Super Middleweight World Champion. His sole blemish on
his record comes from a valiant performance against Dmitrii
Bivol last November 2022. Ramirez is now ready to return to
the ring and contend against the heavy hitters of the
division.
“I am ready to take over the cruiserweight division and
prove to myself that I can add another championship belt to
my resume,” said Gilberto Ramirez. “I want to thank all of
my fans, Golden Boy, DAZN, the WBA, and my entire team that
have supported me through this season of change. We are
ready to face a hungry opponent in Joe Smith Jr. who is used
to being an underdog. I know both of us wanted this fight at
light heavyweight a few years back, but I’m glad we can make
it now. See you all in Las Vegas!”
The iron-willed, former light heavyweight world champion Joe
Smith Jr. is known to prove his critics wrong, becoming the
WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion after giving an
unyielding boxing performance when he fought Maxim Vlasov in
April 2021. He went on to successfully defend his title
against Steve Geffrard in January 2022 and then succumbed to
Artur Beterbiev in a massive unification fight on June 18.
In addition, Smith has one of the best resumes in boxing
that includes victories over former undisputed champion and
boxing legend, Bernard Hopkins, former world champion,
Eleider Alvarez, and title contenders Jessie Hart and
Andrzej Fonfara. Having begun his career in 2009, he has
earned the respect of the “common man” and will also be
going up to cruiserweight for the first time to face
Ramirez.
“It feels great to return to the ring in a big way on
October 7 against ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez,” said Joe Smith Jr. “I
was having a rough time this year, then we tragically lost
my brother Alex on top of it all. I miss him and know he
will be with me when I step into that ring. He was always
proud of me and he would be happy to see me back. I can’t
wait to show the world the Common Man is back and hope my
performance can bring some happiness and inspiration back to
my family.”
“‘For almost 15 years, ‘Zurdo’ beat everyone who stepped
into the ring, becoming a world champion and the most feared
man in the Super Middleweight division in the process,” said
Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya.
“But coming off a loss and with a new weight division to
conquer, there is a renewed fire in Zurdo’s eyes. I expect
an impressive outing and a first step towards a
cruiserweight world championship.”
“We are thrilled to announce the return of Star Boxing’s
‘Common Man,’ Joe Smith Jr. at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas
live on DAZN,” said Star Boxing’s CEO Joe DeGuardia. “He and
his family have had a rough year, but in quintessential Joe
Smith fashion, while there were many fights out there for
him, he wanted the biggest and toughest challenge available.
It will once again be Champion vs Champion as two former
world champs go head to head in this intriguing fight. This
has all the makings of must see action and I personally look
forward to watching Joe back in the ring on October 7th.”
‘What an exciting fight this will be between two former
World Champions,” said Joseph Markowski, CEO North America,
DAZN Group. “Zurdo wanted a tough test, and this one-his
first at cruiserweight-vs Smith Jr. is going to be a very
difficult fight for him. You will not want to miss it! Tune
in October 7th live from the fight capital of the world, Las
Vegas, broadcast only on DAZN.”
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