Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez moving up to 175

[ElJefe]

WBO Super Middleweight Champion Zurdo Ramirez is moving up to light heavyweight for his next fight.

He plans on having one fight to get used to the weight and then fighting for a title.

http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/2 ... next-fight

I'm not 100% sure which fighters are with which promoters/networks at 175.

How does he fare up in weight? Personally, I wouldn't make him favourite against any of the champions.

[oogiebe]

He's big enough, but is he good enough to move up. It's not like he was dominant at SMW (struggled with Hart 2x), so I'm curious on what he and his camp see with the move up, other than getting away from SMW which maybe has some better talent.(Smith and Eubank?). I.E. Better opportunities at LHW?

[ElJefe]

I think 168 is an easier division for him. Callum Smith aside he'd probably open as the betting favourite against anyone else. The move up must be partially enforced due to struggles making weight.

175 is tough for him imo. Gvozdyk, Kovalev, Beterbiev, Bivol, Browne, Jack, Alvarez etc. More tough fights for him there. Even some lower top 10 guys might fancy their chances with him. Barrera, Yarde, Smith Jr etc. Interesting to see who is first opponent will be.

[oogiebe]

I think 168 is an easier division for him. Callum Smith aside he'd probably open as the betting favourite against anyone else. The move up must be partially enforced due to struggles making weight.

175 is tough for him imo. Gvozdyk, Kovalev, Beterbiev, Bivol, Browne, Jack, Alvarez etc. More tough fights for him there. Even some lower top 10 guys might fancy their chances with him. Barrera, Yarde, Smith Jr etc. Interesting to see who is first opponent will be.

The LHW's don't have a Callum Smith IMHO, and again he struggled with Hart twice so for him, it's plenty competitive. So there are certainly MORE opportunities at LHW. I have to agree that maybe he's struggling making weight. He's pretty big at 6'2" +, so it makes the most sense, I guess. Yarde should jump on this.

[boxing_rocks]

He has absolutely no chances to beat any of current LHW champions. He was the softest SMW champion.

[oogiebe]

He has absolutely no chances to beat any of current LHW champions. He was the softest SMW champion.

Honestly, I'm struggling with this.

[ElJefe]

I think 168 is an easier division for him. Callum Smith aside he'd probably open as the betting favourite against anyone else. The move up must be partially enforced due to struggles making weight.

175 is tough for him imo. Gvozdyk, Kovalev, Beterbiev, Bivol, Browne, Jack, Alvarez etc. More tough fights for him there. Even some lower top 10 guys might fancy their chances with him. Barrera, Yarde, Smith Jr etc. Interesting to see who is first opponent will be.

The LHW's don't have a Callum Smith IMHO, and again he struggled with Hart twice so for him, it's plenty competitive. So there are certainly MORE opportunities at LHW. I have to agree that maybe he's struggling making weight. He's pretty big at 6'2" +, so it makes the most sense, I guess. Yarde should jump on this.

I like Callum but I wouldn't rate him above Gvozdyk and Bivol. Maybe on par. All 3 beat Ramirez imo. I think his only real chance against Kovalev is if Sergey slides again. Beterbiev has shown vulnerabilities but I'm not sure a guy moving up in weight will be the one to beat him in a firefight. I like all 4 champions and a couple of others over Zurdo at light heavy.

More potential for big fights, yes. But far more winnable fights at 168 for me.

[verlichte]

WBO Super Middleweight Champion Zurdo Ramirez is moving up to light heavyweight for his next fight.

He plans on having one fight to get used to the weight and then fighting for a title.

http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/2 ... next-fight

I'm not 100% sure which fighters are with which promoters/networks at 175.

How does he fare up in weight? Personally, I wouldn't make him favourite against any of the champions.

Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez‘s resume is deeply impressive. He cleaned-out the 168lbs weight class, by beating all his big name rivals, so a move up in weight only seems natural, as he needs to seek bigger challenges.

Being serious though, he’s relatively untested. So it’s hard to tell how good he can be, but he doesn’t have an appealing fighting style.

[boxing_rocks]

I think his only real chance against Kovalev is if Sergey slides again. Beterbiev has shown vulnerabilities but I'm not sure a guy moving up in weight will be the one to beat him in a firefight.

Ramirez is not a slick guy to outbox Beterbiev and not a super tough one to submit Kovalev. Also, he doesn't have strength and power to compete with them.

[ElJefe]

I think his only real chance against Kovalev is if Sergey slides again. Beterbiev has shown vulnerabilities but I'm not sure a guy moving up in weight will be the one to beat him in a firefight.

Ramirez is not a slick guy to outbox Beterbiev and not a super tough one to submit Kovalev. Also, he doesn't have strength and power to compete with them.

I agree. I give him more chance against those 2 than Gvozdyk/Bivol but still probably 70-30 in favour of the Russians.

[boxing_rocks]

More like 90-10 or 95-5.

[KiwiRider]

He has absolutely no chances to beat any of current LHW champions. He was the softest SMW champion.

Honestly, I'm struggling with this.

Oh Oggie, I hate to see ya struggle.
Problem is, Zurdo isn't very good at SMW where apart from Smith, is a giant. Like the kid at primary school who was held back a couple of times, beating up all the little kids. He struggled with Hart- (twice) and Hart is fairly useless, but only slightly more useless than Zurdo.
For 3 years Zurdo has been mouthing off about unifying the division, getting the big fights. And what has he done?
Nothing.
Why?
Because he just isn't very good.
The top 4 LHW guys would murder him. So wait for his unkie AL to find him a nice cozy way to pretend to be a LHW champion, and stay that way.
Now go and have a cuppa tea and a little lie down, and unkie Kiwi will bring you a biscuit later

[oogiebe]

He has absolutely no chances to beat any of current LHW champions. He was the softest SMW champion.

Honestly, I'm struggling with this.

Oh Oggie, I hate to see ya struggle.
Problem is, Zurdo isn't very good at SMW where apart from Smith, is a giant. Like the kid at primary school who was held back a couple of times, beating up all the little kids. He struggled with Hart- (twice) and Hart is fairly useless, but only slightly more useless than Zurdo.
For 3 years Zurdo has been mouthing off about unifying the division, getting the big fights. And what has he done?
Nothing.
Why?
Because he just isn't very good.
The top 4 LHW guys would murder him. So wait for his unkie AL to find him a nice cozy way to pretend to be a LHW champion, and stay that way.
Now go and have a cuppa tea and a little lie down, and unkie Kiwi will bring you a biscuit later

lol! That is why I can't figure why he would move up. It really doesn't make sense to me. Thanks! I'm better now...

[jamamb]

hmm, hes got a big unbeaten record but all the while never really impressing me, 175s a tough division

[KiwiRider]

hmm, hes got a big unbeaten record but all the while never really impressing me, 175s a tough division

Yep, even the B level at 175 has a bunch of guys capable of doing the business.

[gilgamesh]

Don't know why he never pursued unification. I don't really fancy his chances at 175 against most of the best, but he could certainly be a worthy contender, and I wouldn't mind seeing what would happen if he fought one of the top guys just for the hell of it.

[KiwiRider]

Don't know why he never pursued unification. I don't really fancy his chances at 175 against most of the best, but he could certainly be a worthy contender, and I wouldn't mind seeing what would happen if he fought one of the top guys just for the hell of it.

He was offered a place in the WBSS, big paydays, unification, Ali trophy etc... Turned it down. That says it all really.
His height and reach will not be a factor at 175 like it is at SMW.
Maybe at 175 he can have a bit more power and stamina, but I fear it won't be enough to challenge the belt holders.
A good test would be someone like Johnson or Barrera, it's still a big step up past those guys to the top level.
Al must have some plan for him to gain a belt without facing the likes of Glovsdyk, Bivol, Kov, etc

[boxing_rocks]

He drained Vlasov to 170 and still had trouble with him. Top 4 LHWs will beat crap out of him. The next 4 will likely beat him too.

[Luckybattles]

Ramirez reminds me of Sergio Mora. He can be a little crafty but world class is questionable

[ElJefe]

Don't know why he never pursued unification. I don't really fancy his chances at 175 against most of the best, but he could certainly be a worthy contender, and I wouldn't mind seeing what would happen if he fought one of the top guys just for the hell of it.

He was offered a place in the WBSS, big paydays, unification, Ali trophy etc... Turned it down. That says it all really.
His height and reach will not be a factor at 175 like it is at SMW.
Maybe at 175 he can have a bit more power and stamina, but I fear it won't be enough to challenge the belt holders.
A good test would be someone like Johnson or Barrera, it's still a big step up past those guys to the top level.
Al must have some plan for him to gain a belt without facing the likes of Glovsdyk, Bivol, Kov, etc

I think he's with Arum.

[gilgamesh]

Don't know why he never pursued unification. I don't really fancy his chances at 175 against most of the best, but he could certainly be a worthy contender, and I wouldn't mind seeing what would happen if he fought one of the top guys just for the hell of it.

He was offered a place in the WBSS, big paydays, unification, Ali trophy etc... Turned it down. That says it all really.
His height and reach will not be a factor at 175 like it is at SMW.
Maybe at 175 he can have a bit more power and stamina, but I fear it won't be enough to challenge the belt holders.
A good test would be someone like Johnson or Barrera, it's still a big step up past those guys to the top level.
Al must have some plan for him to gain a belt without facing the likes of Glovsdyk, Bivol, Kov, etc

I think he's with Arum.

That'd put him in the mix to fight Kovalev then wouldn't it?

[dickbelden]

Don't know why he never pursued unification. I don't really fancy his chances at 175 against most of the best, but he could certainly be a worthy contender, and I wouldn't mind seeing what would happen if he fought one of the top guys just for the hell of it.

He was offered a place in the WBSS, big paydays, unification, Ali trophy etc... Turned it down. That says it all really.
His height and reach will not be a factor at 175 like it is at SMW.
Maybe at 175 he can have a bit more power and stamina, but I fear it won't be enough to challenge the belt holders.
A good test would be someone like Johnson or Barrera, it's still a big step up past those guys to the top level.
Al must have some plan for him to gain a belt without facing the likes of Glovsdyk, Bivol, Kov, etc

I think he's with Arum.

That'd put him in the mix to fight Kovalev then wouldn't it?

yes--ZURDO called out KRUSHER KOVALEV today !

[boxing_rocks]

Don't know why he never pursued unification. I don't really fancy his chances at 175 against most of the best, but he could certainly be a worthy contender, and I wouldn't mind seeing what would happen if he fought one of the top guys just for the hell of it.

He was offered a place in the WBSS, big paydays, unification, Ali trophy etc... Turned it down. That says it all really.
His height and reach will not be a factor at 175 like it is at SMW.
Maybe at 175 he can have a bit more power and stamina, but I fear it won't be enough to challenge the belt holders.
A good test would be someone like Johnson or Barrera, it's still a big step up past those guys to the top level.
Al must have some plan for him to gain a belt without facing the likes of Glovsdyk, Bivol, Kov, etc

I think he's with Arum.

That'd put him in the mix to fight Kovalev then wouldn't it?

yes--ZURDO called out KRUSHER KOVALEV today !

That would be the end of Zurdo. Beterbiev also called out Kova, so let's see who he picks.

[jamamb]

fukk zurdo vs kov, give us the russian rival battle, someones getting ktfo

[Cent0089]

Wrong move by Zurdo. He has more money and less danger in 168. He should chase megafight with Callum Smith or Eubank-Degale winner