Saturday evening at the YouTube Theatre in Inglewood sees Gilberto Ramirez attempt to become a two-weight world champion, as he challenges Arsen Goulamirian for the WBA (Super) cruiserweight title.
DAZN televise live Goulamirian vs Ramirez, and Golden boy promote in California.
Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) began his career under the guise of being the next Julio Cesar Chavez or Canelo Alvarez, but after becoming WBO super middleweight champion in 2016, winning all twelve rounds against Arthur Abraham, he has largely flattered to deceive.
‘Zurdo’ made five defences, all low-key, before moving up to light heavyweight, where five wins against more limited opposition earned him a shot at the WBA (Super) title.
The Mexican was no match for the superb Dmitrii Bivol, losing a clear decision in Abu Dhabi to suffer a first professional defeat. Ramirez responded by moving up to cruiserweight, where he put on 17 pounds to win a lop-sided decision against Joe Smith Jr last October.
He now takes on Armenian-born, Frenchman Goulamirian (27-0, 19 KOs), who fights in the USA for the first time, now residing in California. ‘Feroz’ won the regular version of the WBA title back in March 2018, halting Ryad Merhy in Marseille, and defended the “super” version of the crown for the first time a year later, knocking out Kane Watts in four in Paris.
Two more defences have followed, the last a points win against Aleksei Egorov at the back end of 2022, so ring-rust may be an issue here.
Prediction: This looks like a shrewd piece of matchmaking by Golden Boy, and Ramirez should dethrone the champion with a decisive points win.
A quartet of ten rounders head the undercard.
Flyweight contender Ricardo Rafael Sandoval (23-2, 16 KOs) will likely need the distance to record a points win against Carlos Buitrago (38-12-1, 22 KOs), and at welterweight, Alexis Rocha (23-2, 15 KOs), who is coming off a knockout loss to Giovani Santillan last October, can take a win inside the distance against Fredrick Lawson (30-4, 22 KOs), who lost to Vergil Ortiz Jr inside a round last time out.
Also at welterweight, Santiago Dominguez (26-0, 20 KOs) could well be taken the distance by the tough Jose Luis Sanchez (14-3-1, 4 KOs), and light heavyweight prospect Kareem Hackett (12-0, 6 KOs) should outscore Rowdy Legend Montgomery (10-5-1, 7 KOs).
Four rounders complete the card.
Jonathan Canas (3-0, 2 KOs) should be able to win early against Romel Tsanimp (3-2, 0 KOs) at lightweight, while at welterweight, Joel Iriarte (1-0, 1 KO) can do the same against Kevin Beltran Aguirre (5-2, 2 KOs).
Jonathan Cañas letting everyone know who doesn’t get paid by the hour 🥊#MunguiaRyder pic.twitter.com/z3YdLo2VYn
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 27, 2024
Two debutants make their bow on the bill.
At super middleweight, Jose Mancilla should take a points win over Reuben Johnson (0-5), and Deni Davtian can seal an early night against Dajuan Robinson (1-1, 1 KO) in their welterweight clash.
