Gilberto Ramirez Plans to Usurp Canelo Alvarez as Mexico’s Champion!
In his next prizefight, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-0, 30 KO’s) will seek to become a world champion once again. Having already captured the WBO super middleweight title, Zurdo will now face Super WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11 KO’s) on November 5. It’s a fight that he is excited to take and is preparing diligently for. Of course he is not overlooking Bivol, but it’s impossible not to think about the ramifications of a victory.
Provided that Ramirez is successful in his campaign versus his Kyrgyz foe, then he is one fight with unified 175-pound champion Artur Beterbiev away from becoming undisputed. Being the proud Mexican that he is, Zurdo can’t help but envision what life could be in merely two hypothetical, but very realistic fights. In part, he shared his feelings on the subject during a Q&A with ESNews.
“For sure I am going to win! I am going to win but it will be an exciting fight for everyone. And in Mexico, I will become world champion and I will be the new face of boxing!”
COMPETITION ON DECK
It’d be interesting to see what Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has to say about Ramirez’s current ambitions. On the one hand, the redhead is quick to give Zurdo praise and support as a fellow countryman. On the other hand though, Canelo takes much pride in being the face of boxing and especially Mexican boxing. Yet, if Ramirez was indeed to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion, then he would have an undeniable rival for the distinction.
That would unfortunately paint Alvarez more into a self-created political corner. On several occasions, he has stated that he will not fight another Mexican. This is not a sentiment shared by many Mexicans, least of all Ramirez who would love to face Canelo. To turn the temperature up a bit more, Canelo has already twice competed at 175-pounds and split the results (1-1). In fact, it’s a very hot topic whether or not Canelo will fight the winner of Ramirez versus Bivol because it was Bivol who beat the redhead at light heavyweight.
IS THIS INDUSTRY STANDARD?
At the moment, Alvarez said he would face Bivol if victorious but not Ramirez. Therefore, it would be a bad look if Zurdo did win against Bivol, and did want to fight Canelo but it never took place because of the flimsy rationale that the redhead doesn’t fight countrymen.
Would the boxing world accept that Crawford wouldn’t face Spence because The Truth was born also in the States? Probably not; so why is this any different? So for more reasons than one, there is a great deal on the line when Ramirez dances with Bivol for the title. Luckily, 3Kings Boxing will be here to break down the fallout.
By: Bakari Simpson
