UNIFIED cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez has been denied the opportunity to enter an immediate showdown with IBF and Ring Magazine titlist Jai Opetaia.
The 33-year-old comprehensively outpointed Arsen Goulamirian to claim his WBA strap in March before dethroning WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith towards the end of last year.
His punishing display against the Brit has earned him ample credibility at 200 lbs, with formidable southpaw Opetaia, 27-0 (21 KOs), now targeting a mouth-watering dustup against the Mexican.
Following his fourth-round stoppage victory over David Nyika earlier this month, the Australian immediately expressed his desire to collate three of the four major belts in his division.
However, Ramirez, 47-1 (30 KOs), has instead been ordered to defend his titles against WBA mandatory challenger Yuniel Dorticos, with the pair given until February 15 to reach an agreement.
Dorticos claimed the IBF strap with a destructive tenth-round stoppage victory over Andrew Tabiti in 2019 before losing the red and gold belt to Mairis Briedis in his following outing.
Since then, the 38-year-old has amassed three wins inside the distance against a limited level of opposition, putting himself in the shop window for a second world title shot.
On the other hand, Ramirez has been far more active on the world scene in recent years, establishing himself as one of the most complete operators in his division.
But still, it looks like ‘Zurdo’ will have no choice but to take on the seasoned Cuban, leaving his potential matchup with Opetaia up in the air.
