De La Hoya: Ramirez Vs. Billam-Smith Winner Could Fight Usyk

Gilberto Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith held their final pre-fight presser, with Oscar De La Hoya saying the winner could box Oleksandr Usyk.

The duo headline Riyadh Season’s first-ever Latino Night on Saturday. Ramirez is the current WBA Cruiserweight Champion. His record stands at 46-1 which includes 30 KOs. His only defeat came against Dmitry Bivol. He was comprehensively outboxed as Bivol retained his WBA Light Heavyweight Title. But since then, Ramirez has racked up two consecutive wins against Joe Smith Jr. and Arsen Goulamirian. The victory over Arsen secured him the WBA belt at cruiserweight, making him a two-weight champ after beating Arthur Abraham for the WBO Super Middleweight Title. 

Billam-Smith is the WBO Cruiserweight Champion. He won the belt by upsetting his former sparring partner, Lawrence Okolie. An unconvincing defense followed as he was getting outboxed by Mateusz Masternak. But the latter retired hurt as Billam-Smith escaped a scare. Billam-Smith bounced back in his last fight to atone for his only loss, beating Richard Riakporhe. The two fighters had plenty to say, including De La Hoya.

The Golden Boy Promoter has suggested that the winner will face Oleksandr Usyk next. Usyk is the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion after having beaten Tyson Fury in a split decision. He rematches Fury on December 21. Another win may increase calls for him to retire. But De La Hoya suggested Usyk could fight the winner of Ramirez-Billam-Smith in a weight class where the Ukrainian was undisputed. 

Ramirez Vs. Billam-Smith

“I’m happy to be here! I’m really excited for Saturday night. My team has prepared well for this fight. I think I will represent ‘Noche Latina’ very well. Viva México! Watch me represent Mexico on Saturday. I’m ready for whatever he [Billam-Smith] brings to the table.

“[And] I’m eating better and I’m not killing myself [to make weight] in this division. I’m ready, I’m happy, I feel grateful to be here for this big opportunity and I’m ready to take it for myself and for Mexico. I’ll show everyone that I’m ready for this division. I’m going to prove to myself and to everyone else on Saturday night that I’m ready to take the belt,” Ramirez said

Further Quotes

“It’s an honor to be here on this stage, these are the fights and shows that are taking over the global audience. It’s amazing to be headlining this night, and while this night is supposed to be Zurdo’s, unfortunately I’m here to spoil the party again and I’ll be doing that Saturday night. I know the level I’m at. There’s no offense taken [at being referred to as the underdog]. It gives me even more drive and he’ll be eating humble pie on Saturday night.

“I want to fight the other champions, and we’ve tried to get in the ring and we weren’t able to do it. Obviously, Zurdo did, and I’ve followed Zurdo’s career for many years. He’s had a fantastic career and I know he’s a fighter’s fighter, who will take up any opportunity and take on any challenge. You want those fighters in your division when you’re a champion and looking for those other belts. I was really happy he won that fight and that we can get it on,” Billam-Smith

“I heard through the grapevine that a special world champion in the heavyweight division is considering moving down to cruiserweight and fighting the winner of Saturday’s fight. So, Oleksandr Usyk is considering coming down and fighting the winner of Saturday night. That’s how special this fight is,” De La Hoya said  

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