GILBERTO Ramirez is keen to further unify the cruiserweight belts and has sent a message to Jai Opetaia. The Mexican successfully defended his WBA ‘Super’ and WBO portions with a 12-round points win over Yuniel Dorticos and wants a bash at IBF champ Opetaia next to bring things closer to alignment.
“Yeah, that’s the fight that I want. I’m the king. Numero uno!” he told DAZN interviewer Ariel Helwani, who prompted Ramirez to send the Aussie a message.
“Make sure you get my phone number and call me, because I don’t have my phone and no one called me. Be ready. [Next fight?]. Yes.”
Ramirez started off slowly in the Jake Paul-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr chief supporting contest but picked up the pace as it went on. His workrate and energy aren’t at super-middleweight levels, of course, but he still finishes strongly.
“I think I was a good performer myself. My opponent, he was tough, he can hit, and I mean, that is what I did, my job, and that’s it.”
One of the judges scored it 117-110 to Ramirez, while the other two had it 115-112, which was perhaps a little closer than the commentary team, at least, saw it. Ramirez shared mild surprise with onlookers around the narrow nature of the outcome.
“I don’t know why it was too close, and I think I had the whole fight, but I mean, it is what it is. I keep my belt, what can I say? You know that Zurdo Ramirez is here for a while, and we’re going to unify titles now. We’re going to give it to all the people.”
Making mid-fight adjustments to stifle and control the lively Dorticos, who was once a dangerous puncher, Ramirez shut things down with the help of his coaching team.
“I did show my plan, follow my plan, follow my leader, Julian Chua. That’s it. He’s in the corner. It’s everything you have to say. You have to do it in the ring. That’s it,” added the winner, who will need every inch of help in order to topple Opetaia.
