'Zurdo' wins WBA cruiserweight title, makes Mexican history

Publish date: 2024-06-02
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Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez made Mexican boxing history in a one-sided decision win over Arsen Goulamirian to take his WBA cruiserweight title on Saturday night.

By winning 118-110 on all three scorecards, Ramirez became the first Mexican to win a title in the 200-pound weight class in the main event of the Golden Boy Promotions card on DAZN  at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California.

Ramirez, who in 2016 became the first Mexican to win a super middleweight title, also became the heaviest Mexico native to win a world title as he surpassed two countrymen who won light heavyweights belts: Canelo Alvarez, who is the reigning undisputed super middleweight champion and winner of world titles in four divisions, including at 175 pounds in 2019, and the late Julio Gonzalez, who ended Dariusz Michalczewski’s unbeaten 48-0 streak and long title reign to take his WBO title in 2003.

“Dreams come true,” Ramirez said as he held onto the belt after perhaps the finest performance of his 15-year-career. “It was teamwork, team effort. Every day, hard work. Thank you to everyone who supported me and believed in me and also those who didn’t give me a chance. Thank you because it gave me great motivation

“I feel proud of myself. I feel so happy for my family, for my dad. I told him I would be a world champion.”

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