Mexico’s Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez was the star of the show on Riyadh Season’s “Latino Night” as he outpointed England’s Chris Billam-Smith over 12 all-action rounds to unify the WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles in Saudi Arabia.
Ramirez and Billam-Smith went back and forth in a toe-to-toe battle from the first round to the last, and while some felt the phone-booth fighting style might lean into Billam-Smith’s size and strength advantage at the weight, it was Ramirez’s footwork and combination punching that proved decisive.
As the fight headed into the middle rounds, Ramirez had fully established his rhythm, and a constant barrage of hooks from both sides left their mark on Billam-Smith, whose corner had a constant job to control a nasty cut above the Englishman’s left eye throughout the second half of the fight.
What a fight by Zurdo and Chris Billam-Smith 👏#RiyadhSeason | #LatinoNight | LIVE and FREE on DAZN | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/G9ucyZGvAe
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 16, 2024
But in a fight that saw neither man give an inch, it was “Zurdo” who had the superior staying power as he maintained a remarkable pace and work-rate through the full 12-round duration to claim a clear unanimous decision victory.
The judges scored the fight 116-112, 116-112, 116-113 for the Mexican, who added the WBO cruiserweight title to the WBA belt he won by dethroning Arsen Goulamirian in Inglewood, California back in March.
It continues Ramirez’s continued progression and cements him as a fighter who is very much here to stay at cruiserweight after departing the super middleweight division in 2019 after five defences of the WBO world title.
Zurdo is chasing greatness and wants Jai Opetaia NEXT 🏆#RiyadhSeason | #LatinoNight | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/nipRXApRiL
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 16, 2024
“Zurdo” is now 3-0 at cruiserweight, and has two world championship belts to his name. And, as he explained to DAZN’s Chris Mannix in the ring after his victory, his next target is the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who retained his titles in Riyadh last month with a sixth-round stoppage of Jack Massey.
