At 32 years old and with a 14-year boxing career behind him, former super middleweight world champ Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) is stepping up to a heavier class.
“Zurdo” is set to make his cruiserweight entrance on October 7, taking on ex-light heavyweight world champ Joe “The Common Man” Smith, Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs). This will be a catchweight bout at 190 pounds and will be the marquee matchup of a Golden Boy Promotions event, streaming live on DAZN from The Chelsea in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Ramirez, who hails from Mazatlán, Mexico, has outgrown his old weight class of 175 pounds. He’s been hitting close to 200 pounds in recent matches, even after officially weighing in the day before.
Switching gears to cruiserweight isn’t just a whimsical decision,” Zurdo” stated. “This is a calculated move my team and I mulled over. My physical development over the years has made the cruiserweight category a more natural fit for me. I’ve packed on muscle and power, which sets me up well for this division.
What excites Ramirez about this leap is the level of competition and diversity in cruiserweight. “This new division offers me a rich tapestry of fighters with varied styles and strengths. I can’t wait to square up against them,” he added. “I’ve been collaborating closely with my team to ensure a seamless shift in training, planning, and overall prep.”
Ramirez was last seen in the ring last November, where he lost a 12-round unanimous decision against WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitriy Bivol. He was set to face Gabe Rosado this past March, but the bout was scrapped because Ramirez failed to make weight.
Jumping straight into the deep end, Ramirez is set to take on Smith, who has quite the resume himself, including victories over Bernard Hopkins, Andrzej Fonfara, and Eleider Alvarez.
“Joe’s got my respect, being a former champ and a guy who can really punch,” said Ramirez. “When I decided to move up, I told my promoter to line up the toughest guys in cruiserweight because I’m hunting for a world title. There’s never been a bout I’ve shied away from, and this isn’t going to be the first.”
Still highly ranked in the light heavyweight division—#4 by The Ring, #6 by the WBO, and #7 by the WBA—Ramirez is eyeing the cruiserweight division with world champion aspirations. “Every fight at this level is a potential game-changer. I know what’s at stake, and I’m out to show I can dominate in this new division,” he concluded.