WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) confidently puts his title belt on the line this Saturday in an intriguing unification fight against WBO champion Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs), headlining the inaugural Latino Night show as part of Riyadh Season, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ramirez vs. Smith-Billam will be streamed live on DAZN as well as broadcast for free on several television networks around the world. No shade, all respect is what Ramirez has for his British opponent, Billam-Smith.

 

“Chris Billam-Smith is a champion for a reason,” Ramirez said. “He brings a well-rounded mix of power, resilience and technical skill into the ring. His physical strength is a key weapon, allowing him to break-down opponents with heavy body shots and powerful punches. Technically, Billam-Smith uses his jab and footwork effectively to control the pace and distance of the fight, often dictating the action. His stamina is another strong asset, enabling him to sustain pressure throughout the later rounds. I expect a tough, challenging fight against him. He has a lot of heart in the ring. I know he brings his best every time, and I don’t take anything for granted. I’ve prepared for a hard battle, and I respect what he brings as a fighter.”

 

Ramirez, a former super middleweight title holder, is 7-1 in world title fights, while Billam-Smith is 3-0. They’ve fought no common opponents.

 

Since he moved up to fight in the cruiserweight division only 13 months ago, “Zurdo” has made it known that his ultimate goal in boxing is to unify the world cruiserweight titles, if possible, before moving up again in weight. “My main focus is to become the undisputed world cruiserweight champion before moving up again,” he explained. “Before the heavyweight division, though, I’d also like to get the Bridgerweight belt. But Saturday’s fight has a lot on the line and it’s going to be very challenging. Chris Billam-Smith has all my respect, and I expect him to bring his best that night. I’ve prepared for war and will leave everything I have in the ring to have my hand raised in victory.”

 

Fighting out of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, Zurdo was the first Mexican to capture the world super middleweight title in 2016, and he duplicated that achievement last March, dethroning previously undefeated WBA cruiserweight champion Arsen “Feroz” Goulamirian (27-1, 19 KOs) in Inglewood, California. Unifying the 200-pound division would be another Mexican boxing first for “Zurdo” Ramirez.