Cruiserweights Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) and Joe “Common Man” Smith Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their WBA eliminator on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and live around the world on DAZN.
Zurdo Ramirez: The first time I fought in Las Vegas was at the Cosmopolitan and I want to repeat what happened last time and have my hand lifted in the air in victory.”
Joe Smith Jr: “Like I said, I’m glad to be back…this weekend, I’m looking to make another statement.”
Oscar De La Hoya: “When you have a former world champion — the first 168-pound Mexican champion of the world and you have Joe Smith Jr., the common man who comes to fight and is a legend killer fighting the likes of Bernard Hopkins and more — this has the makings of a great fight.”
I didn’t realize Zurdos height next to Smith. Smith is going to feel him out for about 2 rounds and then it’s bombs away. Ramirez will try to exchange and that will be his undoing. Boxing Smith off the back-foot is his only way of winning because stepping into the line of fire would not be wise in this fight.
I got Smith by unanimous decision and Ramirez by controversial majority decision.
Ramirez 5th round tks.
Meant 5th round tko.
Really? By cut or injury? Outside of the Beterbiev fight, Smith’s chin has been pretty solid.
The referee will prevent a third knockdown and save Smith from a beating NLT the 5th round.
So you’re predicting both guys to win!!! Nice one. Hopefully, you’re not around when ‘serious’ decisions are to be made.
Negative, Smith is going down and out by the 5th round.
My comment was in tended for the first commenter on this thread.
The man doesnt wanna lose his pic lol
If Smith don’t win this one, he may want to consider retirement from the sport and enjoy the decent money he’s made and his future pension as a unionized worker in NY. Why be a gatekeeper?
I’m still leaning towards Smith in this one, but I’m very curious to see how Zurdo looks. I think Smith is the better athlete and will have a good opportunity to do damage against a slow, ponderous Zurdo. I don’t think whoever wins has much of a chance at cruiserweight, but they’ll have a big name (one of the biggest in the division) and probably make a some good money before calling it a career.
zurdo is a big dude. definitely starved himself to make 168 and 175. curious to see if he has any power at this weight…