A POTENTIAL world cruiserweight title unification fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Gilberto Ramirez could take place in November.
That’s according to ESPN who reported on social media app X last night that Ramirez’s promoter Golden Boy Promotions are working with Riyadh Season to put on a five-fight card in Saudi Arabia.
Billam-Smith, the current WBO champion, made a second successive defence of his title beating Richard Riakporhe in June to avenge his only defeat five years ago. Since then ‘The Gentleman’ has been called out by IBF titlist Jai Opetaia who makes the first defence of his belt against European champion Jack Massey on October 12 in Riyadh.
Ramirez (L) became a two-weight champion after beating Goulamirian (R). (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP).
Ramirez, a former super-middleweight world champion, joined the cruiserweight scene in October 2023 recording a points win over Joe Smith. And earlier this year the 33-year-old won his second world title defeating Arsen Goulamirian to become WBA champion at 200lbs.
Should the show in November become a reality the undercard would feature Jose Ramirez vs. Arnold Barboza, William Zepeda vs. George Kambosos Jr, Oscar Duarte vs. Kenneth Sims and Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Lester Martinez.
Last month Golden Boy announced a new partnership with Riyadh Season, “Aimed at bolstering the promotion of top-tier boxing events throughout the world.” Their collaboration began on August 10 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas when Vergil Ortiz Jr defeated Serhii Bohachuk in an absorbing battle to win the WBC super-welterweight interim belt.
*Kenneth Sims
— Salvador Rodriguez (@ChavaESPN) August 30, 2024