Gilberto Ramirez: ‘I want to fight the other champions’

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez says he wants to face the other champions at 168 pounds after last night’s one-sided win over Habib Ahmed, and that his goal is to be considered the best fighter in boxing.

“I would like to fight with anybody in a unification fight. I want to fight the other champions. Anywhere. I don’t care. I am ready for anyone. I want the winner of the [World Boxing Super Series] tournament. I want Bob Arum to make that fight. I want to be the best in my division, and I want to be the best pound-for-pound fighter. I want to be the best.”

Promoter Bob Arum has already stated that he wants Ramirez (37-0, 25 KO) to fight four times this year, and he’s laid out the plan. Ramirez would return in May, with Rohan Murdock on the undercard, and if both win, they’d fight in Australia this fall. Then, if possible, Ramirez would fight again in December.

That December date could conceivably be against the WBSS winner. George Groves faces Chris Eubank Jr on February 17, and Callum Smith takes on Juergen Braehmer on February 24 in the semifinal matchups. The winners will meet in the late spring, and would be ready for December against Ramirez if it comes to that, and the fight can be made.

As for other titleholders, those are Groves (WBA), Caleb Truax (IBF), and David Benavidez (WBC). Groves is busy with the tournament, Benavidez faces Ronald Gavril on February 17 in a rematch, and Truax is likely to rematch former titleholder James DeGale.

So we’ll have to wait and see. Unifications any time soon seem unlikely, at least until late this year, or probably in 2019, all things considered.