We’ll have to wait a bit longer for the seemingly inevitable cruiserweight unification between Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Jai Opetaia, as Jake Donovan reports that the WBA has ordered Ramirez to face mandatory challenger Yuniel Dorticos.
As Donovan points out, this one will be hard to dodge. Dorticos (27-2, 25 KO) may have just three fights since losing to Mairis Brieidis in the September 2020 WBSS finals, none of them against competent opposition, but he’s been at the front of the queue since before Ramirez (47-1, 30 KO) even claimed the title.
Were this 2020 or so, it would be a compelling showdown between the skilled pressure of Ramirez and the crushing power of Dorticos. As-is, Ramirez shouldn’t have much trouble with the 38-year-old.
I’d say something about how this also gives the WBC time to sort its crap out with Badou Jack, Noel Mikaelian, and Ryan Rozicki, but I have no confidence.