Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez is set to make history as he challenges Armenia’s Arsen Goulamirian for the WBA cruiserweight title in Inglewood, California. Ramirez, a former 168-pound titleholder, will be competing at the 200-pound limit for the first time, aiming to become the first Mexican champion above 175 pounds.
The 32-year-old Ramirez expressed the significance of his potential victory, stating, ‘It’s something special because we never have [had] a Mexican [champion] that big. [A win] will be big for me, for all the fans in Mexico, for all the people. I think it’s history.’
Ramirez, with a record of 45-1, 30 KOs, suffered his first career defeat against light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in November 2022. Following this, he moved up to cruiserweight and secured a 193-pound catchweight decision win over Joe Smith in October.
The cruiserweight division has been relatively overlooked in the U.S. since its introduction in 1979, with most of its prominence in Europe. Oscar De La Hoya, Ramirez’s promoter, highlighted the lack of major rivalry or big-name fighters at cruiserweight in the U.S., emphasizing Ramirez’s opportunity to make an impact in the weight class.
Standing at 6-foot-2½, Ramirez anticipates having more power in his new weight class, where he walks around between 210 and 215 pounds. He is currently favored to defeat Goulamirian, with ESPN’s No. 6 cruiserweight ranking and odds of -215, according to ESPN BET.
On the other hand, Goulamirian, with a record of 27-0, 19 KOs, is now being trained by Abel Sanchez and is determined to elevate the popularity of the cruiserweight division in the United States. ‘This is my first fight in [the] United States and I am planning to put on a show,’ Goulamirian declared through his adviser, Sam Katkovski.
With both fighters aiming to leave a mark in the cruiserweight division, the upcoming WBA title fight promises an exciting clash as Ramirez seeks to etch his name in Mexican boxing history.
