Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Targets Move To Heavyweight In ‘Two Or Three Years’

Cruiserweight world champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez has revealed he is planning a move up to heavyweight in the next two or three years.
Ramirez (46-1-0 30 KO) makes the first defense of his WBA title in a unification bout against WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith (20-1-0 13 KO) on November 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their bout will headline the ‘Latino Night’ show hosted by Riyadh Season and Golden Boy Promotions.
The Mexican is a two-weight world champion having held the WBO’s super-middleweight title, but he insisted that he hasn’t reached his weight limit yet, and is aiming to emulate the likes of Oleksandr Usyk and Evander Holyfield in successfully making the step up to boxing’s biggest division.
“There must be a best performance in Saudi Arabia right now on November 16. And then probably two years, three years, I can move up in weight and be a heavyweight,” Ramirez told BoxingScene.
Ramirez first became a world champion in April 2016 when he defeated then-WBO super-middleweight title holder Arthur Abraham in a points shutout in Las Vegas. He defended the title five times over the next two years before making the step up to light-heavyweight.
Zurdo put together a streak of five victories at 175lbs to earn a shot at Dimitry Bivol, who then held the WBA belt. The Russian put on a masterclass in Abu Dhabi in November 2022 to inflict a first – and to date, only – defeat of Zurdo’s career.
“I had another fight after the Bivol defeat and I couldn’t make weight,” Ramirez said. “And I was like, ‘Okay. I’m done with 175 and I need to move on’.”
Zurdo did indeed move on and he adjusted quickly to cruiserweight, outpointing Joe Smith Jr on his 200lb debut in October 2023. That victory set up a shot at WBA belt holder Arsen Goulamirian, whom he dominated on points in March to win his second world title.
Next he faces his biggest test since the defeat to Bivol – who last Saturday was narrowly beaten in an undisputed classic by Artur Beterbiev – when he faces Billam-Smith next month.
The British fighter claimed the WBO strap in May 2023 with an impressive win over then-champion Lawrence Okolie (despite one judge somehow calling it a draw) and has made two successful defenses. Billam-Smith’s most recent win was in June over Richard Riakporhe – the only fighter to have previously beaten him.
Ramirez is expecting a tough fight against Billam-Smith but is confident of victory.
“I see my hands being raised that night,” the 33-year-old southpaw said. “I think it would be a nice win for me and I can actually give the fans the best fight possible. I want people to remember me as a legend who gave everything to the fans.”
Should Ramirez win and become a unified champion, there will be loud calls for him to face IBF king Jai Opetaia, who retained his belt last Saturday with a dominant sixth-round stoppage of European champion Jack Massey in Riyadh.
Opetaia recently claimed that talks had already begun regarding a fight between him and the winner of Ramirez’s bout with Billam-Smith.