Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez is primed for a change, with the light heavyweight division no longer being his comfort zone. After a humbling defeat against Dmitry Bivol last year, and a subsequent, not-so-impressive bout with Gabe Rosado, Ramirez and his team are eager for a fresh start.
The buildup to the Rosado fight was a wake-up call for Ramirez. Both fighters prepared to hit the 175-pound mark, but while Rosado came through comfortably, Ramirez found himself a concerning 12 pounds over the limit. This hiccup has now led him to rethink his weight class, and the cruiserweight division appears to be the next step.
Ramirez, native of Mexico, has now set his sights on the current WBC cruiserweight titlist, Badou Jack. Despite being on the wrong side of his thirties, Jack has been attracting significant attention from boxing’s big names, including Canelo Alvarez. However, his contractual independence and clear intentions to take on worthy opponents for the right price might just pave the way for a Ramirez showdown.
Although Ramirez is well aware of the tough task at hand in challenging Jack, his confidence remains unshaken. When asked about the potential matchup’s outcome, Ramirez didn't hesitate: “Me, obviously.” A high stakes match with Jack may just be the resurgence Ramirez needs, promising an exciting chapter in both fighters’ careers.
Image Credit: DAZN