CBS-Zurdo on Nov. 16 after official announcement
Nov. 16: Chris Billam-Smith (c, WBO) vs. Gilberto Ramirez (c, WBA)
Undercard features 140lb title eliminator – Jose Ramirez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr
GBP and BOXXER co-promotion: Live at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
THE first time I mentioned Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez as a prospective opponent, Chris Billam-Smith was keenly aware but kept cards close to his chest as you’d expect a defending world champion to do. In two months’ time, they’ll do battle on foreign soil as cruiserweight will have its first unified world champion since Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk clinched WBO world cruiserweight gold with a UD12 win over 26-0 unbeaten pro Krzysztof Glowacki in Gdansk, Poland seven years ago this week. Twelve months and three successful title defences later, he began training camp for what proved perhaps the toughest test of his illustrious career to date against recently-retired former champ Mairis Briedis, beating the Latvian in his hometown to start 2018.
Following the Briedis win, he comprehensively outpointed 26-0 pro Murat Gassiev before stopping former WBC titleholder Tony Bellew in Manchester to retire the proud Liverpudlian, before announcing a heavyweight move was his next plan.
The rest, as they say, is history. Billam-Smith has cleaned out the domestic scene at 200lbs and long set his sights on unifying world titles if the opportunity presented itself, which it would if he continued winning – defying the odds one fight at a time.
“It’s been a long time coming and I’m looking forward to becoming the division’s unified champion.
I’ve always said this was my division [cruiserweight], I’m happy to showcase my skills at this level on a global stage in Riyadh, hope to be the bridge between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, making both sides proud.”
- Zurdo’s comments before his Latino Night in the Middle East
In the hours after confirmation came on social media before an official announcement from GBP, BOXXER and the Riyadh-based financial backers of said show, online criticism came about having this unification away from US soil where Zurdo has almost exclusively boxed over the past decade – a one-round blowout in Macao (2014) and maiden pro defeat by Dmitry Bivol in Abu Dhabi (2022) aside.
It’s not Stateside as he wished after exacting sweet revenge against Richard Riakporhe on enemy territory in Selhurst three months ago, but with IBF titleholder Jai Opetaia held in high esteem by the Saudis, this serves as long-term planning to set up a much-anticipated cruiserweight clash for three versions of the world title.
The division’s other title is held by Norair Mikaeljan, who beat long-running former titleholder Ilunga Makabu for vacant WBC honours last November and will defend against Canada’s Ryan Rozicki to headline a Don King show in Miami on Sept. 28.
If all goes to plan, all four world champions could be boxing in the space of seven calendar weeks to keep them on a similar timeline – injuries permitting – which would in turn allow them an opportunity to stay active and combine for unifications.
September 28: WBC champion Norair Mikaeljan (c) vs. Ryan Rozicki
October 12: IBF titleholder Jai Opetaia (c) vs. Jack Massey
Nov. 16: WBO champ Chris Billam-Smith (c) vs. WBA titlist Gilberto Ramirez (c)
A look at the undercard
Jose Ramirez fell narrowly short of becoming undisputed king at 140lbs against Josh Taylor three years ago and will look for his best win since then against the unbeaten Arnold Barboza Jr, fortunate to depart with his unblemished record intact after a lacklustre showing saw him squeeze a split decision win over Sean McComb in April.
The Barboza-Ramirez winner will be the new mandatory challenger for Teofimo Lopez’s WBO light-welterweight title, the former unified lightweight champion himself having flattered to deceive against Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett so far this year. While he’s hinted at moving up again, Teo‘s next move remains unclear.
Updated: Shakur Stevenson was set to box William Zepeda, then former IBF super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina on the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard next month before sustaining a hand injury during sparring which required surgery.
After a pair of knockout victories in headline bouts on GBP shows, Zepeda will end his eventful 2024 campaign with a 10-round clash against Tevin Farmer, himself like Cordina a former IBF champion at 130lbs, as the powerful Mexican looks to stay on track for a heavily-anticipated showdown with Stevenson in the first quarter of 2025.
Elsewhere, New Jersey-born southpaw Oscar Collazo will look to finish 2024 as he did 2023 – three fights and three victories – when making the fourth defence of his WBO world minimumweight (105lbs) title against Mexico’s Edwin Cano Hernandez.
Meanwhile in another 140lb clash, former Ryan Garcia opponent Oscar Duarte looks to parlay his recent Joseph Diaz knockout win into something more substantial vs. Chicago’s durable Kenneth Sims Jr, who has notched some excellent wins of late.
Full fight card, is as follows
Cruiserweight: Gilberto Ramirez (c) vs. Chris Billam-Smith (c) for WBA, WBO world cruiserweight titles
Light-welterweight: Jose Carlos Ramirez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr
Light-welter: Oscar Duarte vs. Kenneth Sims Jr
Minimumweight: Oscar Collazo (c) vs. Edwin Hernandez for WBO world minimumweight title
Lightweight, 10 rounds: William Zepeda vs. Tevin Farmer
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via official press release
Mo and Sports 