Gilberto Ramirez Bounces Back As Melikuziev Runs Over Fox
With a possible championship title shot next, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (45-1, 30KO) outboxed Joe “Common Man” Smith Jr. (28-5, 22KO) in a WBA cruiserweight title eliminator.
Fans expected this to be a phonebooth style fight, but instead turned into a boxer versus brawler contest. Zurdo came out boxing on his toes and landing crisp combination punches that kept Smith on the backfoot for the first half of the fight.
The Common Man adjusted in the middle rounds and started finding success with the straight right hand, forcing the Mexican against the ropes. In addition, he was coming on strong with hard body shots that swung the momentum in his favor.
Ramirez was not going to be denied and turned it up in the closing rounds with the straight left hand and punishing body shots that slowed down Smith’s advancement. With both men giving it everything they had until the final bell, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.
All three judges scored it 99-91 in favor of Zurdo. 3Kings Boxing had it 97-93. Besides those ridiculous scorecards the right fighter won, and Ramirez could be heading towards a title shot against WBA champion Arsen Goulamirian.
BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV MAKES QUICK WORK OF ALANTEZ FOX
Looking to start marching toward a title shot, super middleweight contender Bektemir “The Bully” Melikuziev (13-1, 10KO) ran over veteran Alantez Fox (28-5-1, 13KO) in four quick rounds.
This fight was almost over in the first round as The Bully came out on fire, landing powerful straight left hands and counterpunches that had Fox on wobbly legs. As the fight continued, he did not hold back combinations to the body and head of an overmatched opponent.
Melikuziev claimed this fight wouldn’t go past four rounds and it didn’t. He landed a punishing left hook to the body that forced Fox to take a knee from a delayed reaction. Like a shark smelling blood, the Uzbekistani went to work throwing more hard shots before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Armed with the WBA Inter-Continental title, Melikuziev has come a long way from that shocking upset defeat by Gabriel Rosado in 2021. A fight with WBA Regular champion David Morrell would bring out the fireworks as both guys have an aggressive style and can punch.
