Ramirez v Billam-Smith: Zurdo ‘Looking Forward To Becoming Unified Champion’
WBA cruiserweight world champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez says he’s looking forward to unifying the division after his fight with WBO title holder Chris Billam-Smith was announced.
Ramirez (46-1-0 30 KO) and Billam-Smith 20-1-0 13 KO) will put their world titles on the line in the headline bout of ‘Latino Night’ on November 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh Season event will be co-promoted by Golden Boy and Boxxer.
‘Zurdo’ is a two-weight world champion having collected his first world title – the WBO – at super-middleweight in 2016 before adding the WBA cruiserweight belt to his record in March by outpointing Arsen Goulamirian. It makes the unification bout with Billam-Smith his first title defense.
He is the first Mexican to win world titles in the 168lb and 200lb divisions, while his only defeat came at light-heavyweight where he was outclassed by a brilliant Dimitrii Bivol in November 2022.
“I’m excited to make this fight happen with Chris Billam-Smith,” Ramirez, 33, said. “It’s been a long time coming, and I’m looking forward to becoming the unified champion in this division. I’ve always said this was my division, and I’m happy for the opportunity to showcase my skills at this level on a global stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“It’s truly an honor to be a Mexican warrior and to showcase what true Mexican boxing is all about while bringing my culture to a global audience. Additionally, I hope to be the bridge between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, making both sides proud.”
Billam-Smith will enter the bout following two successful defenses of the WBO belt he won by defeating British rival Lawrence Okolie in May 2023; he retained his title by beating Mateusz Masternak in December 2023, before correcting the only loss on his record by outpointing Richard Riakporhe in June.
The 34-year-old British fighter had been the target of IBF champion Jai Opetaia for a separate unification bout, but he admitted the timing didn’t suit his schedule. Opetaia will instead make his title defense against Jack Massey on October 14, also in Riyadh.
“Riyadh Season continues to deliver the very best matches at the top of the sport,” Boxxer CEO and Billam-Smith’s promoter Ben Shalom said. “We are delighted to be working with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to present another epic fight as co-promoters of this huge cruiserweight world title unification battle. Gilberto Ramirez is a great champion but Chris Billam-Smith will be coming full of confidence and ready to unify the division.”
In the co-main event, top-ranked lightweight contender William Zepeda (31-0-0 27 KO) will take on former world champion Tevin Farmer in a 10-round bout, while Oscar Collazo will defend his WBO minimumweight world title against Edwin Hernandez. The card will open with a WBA super-lightweight title eliminator between Oscar Duarte and Kenneth Sims Jr.
“We are looking forward to staging our first event as part of our partnership with Golden Boy Promotions with Latino Night,” organizer Turki Alalshikh said. “This card features some of the best Latino fighters around and continues our drive to deliver top-tier boxing events by giving fans throughout the world the fights they want to see.”
