Gilberto Ramirez and Jesse Hart Trilogy Possible!
By now, news of Super WBA middleweight and Regular WBA super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 26KO) vacating the WBO light heavyweight championship is public knowledge throughout the boxing community.
The void left by the boxing mega-star at light heavyweight must and will undoubtedly be filled. However, the question that remains is who benefits from this opportunity?
Boxing fans, I give you former WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (40-0, 26ko).
The former Mexican champion ranks #1 with the WBO. Therefore by their rules, as he vacated a version of their world title to enter a new weight class, he goes to the front of the line.
In addition, there is another possible recipient of this fortunate event.
Taking a gander at the rankings, there is fellow stablemate and rival Jesse Hart (26-2, 21ko). The Philadelphia fighter ranks #3 and has an upcoming bout with native New Yorker Joe Smith Jr (24-3, 20ko) on January 11.
A victory would go far in justifying a move to have him overtake International champion and once-beaten Russian Umar Salamov at the #2 position. This would mark a Top Rank “in-house” trilogy between Ramirez and Hart that could easily be more marketable than either of the two facing the unknown Russian.
If everything goes according plan, best believe that old crafty fox, Bob Arum will be working the roller-deck in making the rounds to make that fight for the vacant title.
The two Top Rank fighters have already had two fights sanctioned by the WBO! How much of coincidence would it be given the rankings that a third is on the way?
As far as we are concerned, all Hart has to do is win January 11 to get that third shot!
By: Garrisson Bland
