Gilberto Ramirez Perplexed by Canelo Alvarez’s Mexican Ban
As a fighter and former WBO 168-pound champion, light heavyweight boxer Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-0, 30 KO’s) feels it’s his obligation to fight the best available opposition. This stems from his own desire to embolden his own legacy and for the titillation of the paying fans. In his next fight, Zurdo seeks to challenge himself by trying to unseat WBA Super light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol on November 5.
Due to his own code of combat however, Ramirez, 31, is somewhat mystified by his fellow countryman Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s (57-2-2, 39 KO’s) current anti-Mexican policies. For the last several years, Canelo has sporadically stated that he no longer feels comfortable fighting Mexicans . This stance is based on some sense of nationality which has never been fleshed out very well. Especially since Alvarez fought exclusively in Mexico against Mexicans to begin his career. Furthermore, as recently as 2017, fought Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
THIS ISN’T THE WAY
As he revealed to Fight Hype, Zurdo does not believe that the redhead is scared but he is dumbstruck nevertheless.
“As a fighter, we have to fight anyone, we have to fight the best with the best! For me, I want to give the fans the fight that they deserve, that they ask for. And I think, as a fighter, we have to fight the best if we want to be a legend and make history and continue to do it right!”
“[…] I think that it’s [taken away] opportunities from Mexicans, maybe. I don’t think that he is afraid to fight anyone, right? As fighter we don’t get afraid and enjoy to share the ring with a good fighter. But I don’t know.”
CANELO’S WALL
Ideally, Alvarez will change his tune in the near future. If he doesn’t, then his No-Mexican hardline could prevent a potential fight with Zurdo himself. This is because Canelo is already on the books for saying he will not face Ramirez if he wins against Bivol. Yet, at the moment, that match-up is hypothetical at best.
Within his own adopted super middleweight division however, this seemingly bizarre policy is currently holding up a splendid match-up with two-time WBC 168-pound champion David Benavidez. Benavidez versus Canelo is a prizefight that the fans have been drooling over since Alvarez breached the super middleweight borders.
To go a step further, there is no shortage of fans who believe that Benavidez was the man to beat to be called the best at super middleweight when Canelo first arrived. Not much has changed. Going a step further, many fans believe that Benavidez was unjustly stripped of his WBC title only for it to be conspicuously offered up to Canelo. Not to mention, Team Benavidez has been calling him out with gusto for a number of years now and Benavidez is his WBC mandatory. With the scene painted as it is, provided that he beats Gennady Golovkin on September 17, it will be very interesting to see who the redhead faces in his next assignment afterwards. Luckily, 3Kings Boxing will be on deck to report all the news and aftermath.
By: Bakari Simpson
