Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez vs Joe “Common Man” Smith Jr.
Two former champions will test themselves in a new division on Saturday, October 7, as former super-middleweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30KO) and ex-light-heavyweight world champion Joe “Common Man” Smith Jr. (28-4, 22KO) jump to the cruiserweight division.
The 12-round non-title fight takes place at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in front of 3,000 live spectators.
How to Watch
Ramirez vs Smith will be be broadcast live on DAZN which can be streamed via phone, tablet, PlayStation, XBox, or smart TV.| Region | Date | Start Time | Main Event |
| USA & Canada (ET) | Sat, Oct 7 | 8pm ET | 11:15pm ET |
| USA & Canada (PT) | Sat, Oct 7 | 5pm PT | 8:15pm PT |
| UK & Ireland | Sun, Oct 8 | 1am BST | 4:15am BST |
| Australia | Sun, Oct 8 | 10am AEST | 1:15pm AEST |
Fight Preview
However it plays out, Zurdo vs. Smith is going to bring some much-needed excitement and hopefully breathe some new life into the muted cruiserweight division.
32-year-old Mexican Ramirez found himself with nowhere to turn after admitting he could no longer make the 175lbs light-heavyweight limit, following defeat to the masterful Russian Dmitriy Bivol last November.
Earlier that year, Ramirez had said he wanted to challenge then-WBC World Cruiserweight champion Illunga Junior Makabu. Instead, the southpaw got thoroughly schooled by master technician and slayer of Mexicans, WBA World light-heavyweight champ Bivol.
Now, Zurdo has finally moved up as he attempts to make a run at another world title. The Sinaloan is ranked WBA #7, WBO #5 and IBO #2 and will benefit from there currently being five different world champions to target – Badou Jack (WBC); A. Goulamirian (WBA); Jai Opetaia (IBF); Chris Billam-Smith (WBO); Yves Ngabu (IBO). He is 6-1 in world championship fights, so his record and reputation precedes him.
New Yorker Smith Jr. also tried and failed to solve the Bivol riddle, losing by even wider scores than Ramirez in 2019. The rugged and tough Long Islander, Smith Jr., hasn’t ever shied away from anyof top names at 175, scoring upset knockout wins over Andrzej Fonfara, an aged Bernard Hopkins, and Eleider Alvarez. He’s also lost to Sullivan Barrera, in 2019, and is coming off a brutal second-round KO defeat to Artur Beterbiev in his last fight, 16 months ago in June 2022.
Both boxers need a win to launch themselves into championship contention in a new division where American and Mexican talent is missing.
Ramirez was promoted by promoter Golden Boy on the brink of breaking Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 record, but he fell short at assignment 44 with a loss to Bivol.
“I am ready to take over the cruiserweight division and prove to myself that I can add another championship belt to my resume,” said Ramirez. “We are ready to face a hungry opponent in Joe Smith Jr., who is used to being an underdog. I know both of us wanted this fight at light heavyweight a few years back, but I’m glad we can make it now. See you all in Las Vegas!”
Smith Jr. says he’s feeling refreshed and ready to return to the ring. “I was having a rough time this year. Then, we tragically lost my brother Alex on top of it all. I miss him and know he will be with me when I step into that ring. He was always proud of me, and he would be happy to see me back. I can’t wait to show the world the Common Man is back and hope my performance can bring some happiness and inspiration back to my family.”
Smith Jr.’s longtime promoter, Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing, couldn’t be happier for his former world champion. “He and his family have had a rough year, but in quintessential Joe Smith fashion, while there were many fights out there for him, he wanted the biggest and toughest challenge available,” said DeGuardia.
Although both men are moving up in weight, the fight is at a contracted catchweight of 193lbs rather than the total 200lbs limit.
Ramirez has been a cruiserweight, forcing himself down to light heavyweight, and it isn’t working for him anymore.
Smith Jr. is a lean light heavyweight. He isn’t small, but he stays in shape, partly due to a lifetime of heavy physical labour as a blue-collar worker.
Zurdo has often been seen as weight-drained before fights, so this sensible move up may revive his activity rate and will be a welcome development.
Ramirez brings a lot of skills to the table. He is naturally tall, athletic, and graceful in his footwork, plus he has that celebrated Mexican durability and aggression.
He is arguably more skilled in every department than Smith Jr., but what the American has his that stubborness that comes with being so tough and proud, plus he always has a puncher’s chance. It worked for him against Fonfara and Hopkins, so it could work for him again.
But size isn’t everything. If Smith Jr. can take Zurdo into the later rounds, he’s got the stamina to outwork, outpunch and outlast Ramirez. Smith Jr. edges Ramirez in sheer raw strength. Combined with the ability to be aggressive and press the action, Smith Jr. could make an offensive approach work.
But he must avoid getting caught with a big punch, because he has been stopped twice before. It's doubtful Ramirez punches as hard as Beterbiev, however, so he's been hit with worse.
Smith Jr. is facing a southpaw with a big right hand in his arsenal, a bit like Zhilei Zhang, who just scored back to back knockouts at the highest level.
Both guys are coming off a loss, but if one man wants it more and will bite down on their gumshield to get it, it would have to be awarded to Smith Jr. He’s always motivated and willing to go out on his shieldso if this fight reaches the midway mark, it'll be Smith's territory to excel.
Smith Jr. considered retiring after his devastating loss to Beterbiev, but when his brother Alex was shot and killed in an apparent domestic violence murder in a parking lot in late May, it was a shock that propelled the born fighter back toward boxing. He’s motivated to make the most of being alive and making his brother proud. It’s a story worthy of a boxing movie.
If sheer will can bring a victory, Smith Jr. will use it.
Betting Odds (Betway Sport)
4/9 Ramirez
11/4 Smith
18/1 Draw
Prediction
It's hard to envisage this fight going the full distance when both boxers are so determined and willing to lay it all on the line. I would have to favour Ramirez to stop Smith Jr. in an epic shootout. Before his Bivol loss, he had five successive knockouts – three in round four and two in round 10. He keeps his power throughout fights, so I think his aim will be to win by the middle rounds, but if it goes past that then the tide could turn in Smith's favour, where he can use his doggedness and endurance to grind it out.
I'm going to back Zurdo to win by stoppage in rounds 4-8.
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