Gilberto Ramirez has added yet one more accolade to his glittering boxing file.
After beforehand turning into Mexico’s first super-middleweight world champion and first cruiserweight world champion, he beat Chris Billam-Smith to turn out to be the nation’s first unified champion at cruiserweight, including the Briton’s WBO world title to the WBA belt he already held.
It was an exhilarating conflict, that Ramirez finally gained unanimously on the playing cards by placing his velocity, mixture punching and boxing expertise to professional use.
However Ramirez’s ambitions prolong additional nonetheless. He does need to turn out to be an undisputed champion at cruiserweight. Then he proposes testing himself at heavyweight.
He desires to comply with the instance of Oleksandr Usyk, who has gone undisputed at each cruiserweight and heavyweight. He would not simply need to emulate that although. He desires to battle Usyk too.
“If he wants, I’m more than ready and happy to fight him. Because he’s one of my idols and I want to face him too. Because what he’s been doing in boxing is great,” Ramirez informed Sky Sports activities.
“Everyone saw I’m a strong man and I’m growing,” he added. “I want to be a heavyweight champion too and everything is possible. Look at Usyk, what he did and he’s not bigger than me, and I think I can do it too.”
Both Jai Opetaia, the IBF champion at cruiserweight, or Noel Mikaelian, the WBC belt-holder within the division, are extra doubtless subsequent opponents for him although.
“I want to unify, I want to be undisputed and that’s a goal for me,” Ramirez mentioned.
Too powerful to knock out
Billam-Smith’s bravery and dedication made his battle Ramirez an thrilling spectacle by way of all 12 of its ferociously contested rounds.
Afterwards the Mexican admitted that he had tried to knock Billam-Smith out, however could not handle to do it.
“I’m a super-middleweight they say, but I’m cruiserweight, I’m unified champion, it would have meant a lot to me to stop him but I couldn’t because he’s really tough,” Ramirez mentioned.
“He’s tough. He comes forward all the time. He’s strong too. I just have respect for him because he’s a great champion.”