Gilberto Ramirez takes out Alfonzo Lopez
Former WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (40-0, 27ko), now campaigning at light-heavyweight took down Alfonzo “El Tigre” Lopez (32-3, 25ko) under his own promotional banner, Zurdo Promotions.
THE OLD MAN CAME TO FIGHT
If you thought for one second this would be an easy night for Ramirez, think again! The 38-year-old contender from Texas was inspired, fighting in his home state. Zurdo came out throwing combinations and digging hard left hooks to the body. Lopez would respond, landing the lead right hand against the former champion. Ramirez was the more superior fighter, landing flurries of punches with a brutal head to body assault. In close quarters, he landed a perfect left uppercut that hurt Lopez.
However in round two, just when Lopez started to find a groove, Zurdo threw a straight left hand, stepped to the side then landed a hard right hook that sent his opponent to the canvas. Lopez would beat the count and it was on from there! He fought back hard landing flush right hand leads making it out of the round.
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For the rest of the early rounds both men were finding success. Lopez would lean on the former champion against the ropes landing right hand counters and good body punches. Although if the underdog got too close, the former champion would spin out landing combination punches of right hooks, coupled with left uppercuts trying to keep the fight at mid-range.
SHOWING THAT CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE
In the middle rounds, it was all Ramirez. Controlling the fight with everything built off the jab. He also sapped much of the stamina from his opponent with brutal left and right hooks to the body. Lopez had little success landing the straight right and was in retreat the majority of the time.
The former champion was stalking down his lesser opponent, again using his footwork stepping to the side, landing hard left hooks and more crushing body shots. Nevertheless, in the eighth round, Lopez landed a good right hand that seemed to stun Zurdo. He looked to pour it on, landing good body shots. Nevertheless Ramirez turned it around, landing a straight left that put Lopez back into retreat. He followed with a serious attack landing right hooks and more punishing body shots. It was clear the end was nearing as they headed into last quarter of the fight.
DEVASTATING ENDING
Prior to this bout, many fans felt the extra weight could present a stamina problem for Ramirez. That was not the case here. He kept building off the jab and looked somewhat fresh by this time. Toward the end of round nine, the underdog was hurt badly by the straight left hand and barely made it out of the round.
At the start of the tenth round, the doctor took a look at Lopez and allowed the fighter to continue. Ramirez instantly jumped all over him, landing the right hook and the left hand down the pipe. Lopez would fight back but Zurdo quickly turned it around. He landed the right uppercut coupled with body punches before ending the fight with a devastating left hook.
The referee immediately waved off the fight as Lopez fell to the canvas in a debilitating state. This is the first time Lopez has been stopped in his career.
Ramirez is currently ranked #1 by the WBC and this victory could see him fight for the title if the organization names him as the mandatory. This means he would fight unified champion Artur Beterbiev who is promoted by his former promoter Bob Arum.
By: Garrisson Bland
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