He hasn’t got a massive profile outside of Mexico and North America just yet but red-hot Mexican prospect Gilberto Ramirez takes one more step toward his world title ambitions when he clashes with Derek Edwards tomorrow night on Trutv in the US – sadly the fight hasn’t been picked up by a UK broadcaster.
Ramirez is ranked highly with the WBO, WBC and IBF and is essentially now also the mandatory for Britain’s James DeGale as the slots above his most recent IBF #3 ranking are currently vacant
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Promoter Bob Arum seems intent on going the WBO route however and intends on matching him with the winner of the fourth fight between WBO champion Arthur Abraham and Robert Stieglitz when they fight next month – yet Ramirez must first get past the test of Edwards – the man who knocked out new WBC champion Badou Jack in some style last year.
It’s true Ramirez didn’t look fantastic at points last time out against the experienced Maxim Vlasov, yet he will be enjoying a considerable size advantage over the smaller Edwards – who, with his 44% ko ratio, is now 35 years old – and I expect the young Mexican star to out-hustle and out-strength his more experienced foe – who did however manage to last the distance with Andre Dirrell last December.
Speaking via ESPN, Ramirez said;
“The 168 lb division is one of the most competitive in boxing and there are many big names out there besides the world champions and I need to keep winning to get the opportunity to fight some of them.”
“Derek Edwards is a tough, hard hitting boxer that I expect to be at his best against me. I know I have to be smart in there and make him fight my fight. I love to fight and I will make him fight on Friday.”
Edwards, predictably, has other ideas;
“I come here to win. I know lots of people think I’m coming in as an opponent but they are in for a big surprise. I have been in this position before and have come up with the win. My experience against top-level opposition gives me an edge in this fight.”
The undercard features a 12 round lightweight fight between Diego Magdaleno and Jose Gonzalez.
Just don’t bet against Ramirez!
Twitter @Undilutedpoison