Gilberto Ramirez is set to return to the ring against Yuniel Dorticos in defense of his cruiserweight world title.
Gilberto Ramirez is coming off a career-best win over Chris Billam-Smith ahead of his title defense against Yuniel Dorticos.
Ramirez has had just three fights as a cruiserweight, with his final fight in the division below seeing him drop a points loss to Dmitry Bivol.
It was Ramirez’s cruiserweight debut that saw the Mexican face a man who brutally beat and retired a legend.
Gilberto Ramirez retired Joe Smith Jr seven years after Smith knocked out Bernard Hopkins
In his first fight as a cruiserweight, Ramirez was matched up against 28-4 Joe Smith Jr.
Smith Jr. had lost to Bivol and Artur Beterbiev before the fight, but had one big win under his belt from 2016.
In 2016, Smith faced Bernard Hopkins in what turned out to be ‘The Executioner’s final fight. After seven rounds, the fight was close, with Hopkins ahead on one scorecard.
In the eighth, though, Smith’s youth and power proved too much for Hopkins, whose luck ran out as Smith knocked him out of the ring, killing his career for good.
Ramirez, who Badou Jack wanted to fight, faced Smith seven years later, and whilst he was unable to stop Smith, he punished him for 10 rounds, with Smith winning just one round in the entire fight, and hanging up the gloves soon after.
‘Why not?’… Gilberto Ramirez could face Jake Paul soon
Ramirez, who could face Jai Opetaia soon, is set to face Dorticos on the undercard of Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, but has maintained that he would be willing to face the winner of Saturday’s main event.
Speaking to The Ring, Ramirez said of the Paul fight: “If Jake Paul wins, we have to give him credit. I’ll beat Jake Paul easily. If everything makes sense and the money is right, why not?”
This would be a strange twist, as a win over Chavez Jr could mean former YouTuber Jake Paul could fight for a world title in his 14th pro fight.