Chris Billam-Smith’s doable subsequent opponent isn’t undefeated, and he isn’t a pure cruiserweight. These are two doable critiques that folks could have for Gilberto Ramirez.
However Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) — who, as these numbers present, has a lack of his personal — had some good phrases for Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs). The WBO and WBA titleholders are in negotiations for a possible unification match in November – an appropriate substitute in lieu of a combat between Billam-Smith and Jai Opetaia (the lineal champ, who additionally has the IBF title).
The 34-year-old from Bournemouth, England, was requested about “Zurdo” throughout an interview with Sky Sports activities’ Ringside Toe2Toe Boxing Podcast.
“Clearly his solely earlier defeat is to [Dmitriy] Bivol, who some assume is the most effective gentle heavyweight on the planet and among the finest pound-for-pound fighters on the planet,” Billam-Smith mentioned. “You possibly can’t simply go, ‘Oh, he shouldn’t be at my weight as a result of his solely loss is to somebody who’s technically very sound and an outstanding fighter.’ You possibly can’t simply write him off like that.”
Ramirez, a 33-year-old from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, spent a few of his early years as a middleweight, then moved as much as 168 and received a world title from Arthur Abraham in 2016. He later moved as much as gentle heavyweight, preventing there from April 2019 till November 2022, when he challenged Bivol for a world title and misplaced a large resolution. Ramirez moved as much as cruiserweight a 12 months in the past, outpointing Joe Smith Jr. final October after which unseating Arsen Goulamirian this April for the WBA belt.
““I feel his toes have in all probability slowed a bit, naturally with the additional weight,” Billam-Smith mentioned. “However he’s very busy, received good lean-backs, [and] his precise punch output is absolutely spectacular. He’s received nice selection. He’s clearly a southpaw. He’s received all of it there. He’s received an outstanding chin. Goulamirian was hitting him clear and he was simply firing again.”
Billam-Smith misplaced a cut up resolution to Richard Riakporhe in 2019 when each have been prospects however labored his method again up the rankings, defeating Lawrence Okolie in Might 2023 for the WBO belt. Billam-Smith has since made two defenses, stopping Mateusz Masternak in December after which successful a unanimous resolution in a rematch with Riakporhe in June.
Observe David Greisman on Twitter @FightingWords2. His guide, “Combating Phrases: The Coronary heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is out there on Amazon.
