ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez brings word that Golden Boy Promotions and Riyadh Season are gearing up for a November show in Saudi Arabia headlined by a cruiserweight unification between Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith.
After outgrowing 168 and getting chased out of 175 by Dmitry Bivol, Ramirez (46-1, 30 KO) kicked off his cruiserweight campaign by dominating Joe Smith Jr. That win set up a title shot against the skilled-but-inactive Arsen Goulamirian, whom Ramirez figured out and overpowered down the stretch to claim WBA gold.
Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KO) scored a truly bizarre upset of Lawrence Okolie for the WBO belt last year, and after surviving a walloping from Mateusz Masternak to force an injury stoppage, he avenged his lone career defeat in June with a grinding decision over Richard Riakporhe.
Per Rodriguez, the rest of the lineup includes:
- Jose Ramirez’s and Arnold Barboza Jr’s long-overdue super lightweight grudge match.
- William Zepeda prepping for next year’s planned crack at Shakur Stevenson against George Kambosos Jr. Sorry, John.
- Oscar Duarte welcoming Kenneth Sims Jr back to 140.
- A potentially explosive super middleweight showdown between longtime prospect Bektemir Melikuziev and breakout Guatemalan standout Lester Martinez.
Very strong lineup if they can put everything together. Hoping we get confirmation soon.