Gilberto Ramirez TKO4 Tommy Karpency ... Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, the WBO 168-pound champion, successfully tested the waters at 175 pounds against weak opposition in Los Angeles on Friday. The physical manifestation of journeyman Tommy Karpency’s uphill battle was the black eye he displayed even before the first bell.  Ramirez was too much of everything for Karpency – his fists too fast, his combinations too varied, his hands too heavy.  Ramirez scored a fourth-round stoppage of Karpency (29-7-1), who quit on his stool after four rounds, saying his ribs were injured. Karpency's face was nicked up and he took hard body shots as well.  Ramirez, now 40-0, looked even bigger than the 175 pounds he weighed in at yesterday, and it would seem doubtful that he will ever return to the super middleweight division.  This fight was a statement that he is here to challenge the big boys at 175.  

 

Aftewards, Ramirez said, "I feel more comfortable at 175 pounds than 168,” Ramirez said. “I'm looking for all the champions at 175. I want to be a pound-for-pound fighter. I struggled making 168 for a very long time. We'll see what's next, but my body felt great at 175. My new head trainer, Julian Chua, did an excellent job preparing me for this fight." source: espn+ / top rank