The co-main event of ‘Latino Night’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday resulted in two-divisional ‘world’ champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez unifying two world title belts in the cruiserweight (200lbs/14st, 4lb) division.
It was a gruelling twelve-round fight that showed the toughness of both combatants and forced them to answer many of the questions that the sport asks. How much do you want it ? Are you skillful enough to beat this man ? Can you take a punch ? and, Are you in condition to last the stretch and ultimately be victorious ?
Zurdo certainly answered all those in the affirmative. The defeated Chris Billam-Smith answered many of these too, with the exception of the latter.
Pre-fight, Ramirez brought the WBA belt into the ring and Billam-Smith the WBO. Only one man could leave with both.
It was an excellent contest, that although devoid of knockdowns or cuts drama, was interesting and entertaining throughout. The WBO champion from Bournemouth, England took the opening round on accuracy and workrate, and it looked like his bigger frame, being a natural and career campaigning cruiserweight, might be the difference over the course.
From the second round on, the WBA champion from Mexico gradually took control out of his southpaw stance peppering Billam-Smith’s body and landing heavy head shots off the jab. The English ‘Gentleman’ although cut from the fourth round was troubled, but his corner were excellent in stemming the flow of blood so that it didn’t become a defining issue.
Billam-Smith showed the grit to come through anything that Ramirez was able to land on him and, although clearly fatigued in the championship rounds (10-12), he lasted the course.
He had his moments over the duration of the contest but was resoundly beaten with the judges cards returning 116-112 twice and 116-113 on the third, all in the Mexican’s favour.
Ramirez record rises to 47-1 (30 KOs) and Billam-Smith fell to 20-2 (13 KOs). The latter is now 34 and will have to regroup, but it will be difficult with a young family. His desire will be tested. ‘Zurdo’ goes onto bigger challenges, only having a sole loss on his record against elite light-heavyweight Dmitry Bivol.
Throughout the fight week build-up both boxers had shown real class and this continued at the end of Saturday’s contest with both acknowledging each other’s toughness. It was a credit to the sport and contrasted sharply with the ‘bore-fest’ held in Arlington, Texas the night before.
The only thing there we wish to note is that former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson dropped his record to 50-7 (44 KOs) in losing to YouTuber and current boxer Jake Paul who recorded his eleventh win. It is understood that both fighters made a lot of money in the process.
In the women’s code, Irish Olympic gold medallist Katie Taylor recorded a close rematch victory over Amanda Serrano to retain her undisputed world light-welterweight title on the Texas show. It was reputedly as riveting as their first encounter in Madison Square Garden, New York City two years earlier. Taylor, now 38, and a future female boxing hall-of-famer, has maybe one more big contest in her. It will be her call, but she continues to win for now.
The Undisputed 