Gilberto Ramirez makes a return to action after suffering a first defeat last time out, and the Mexican is pitted against former WBO champion Joe Smith Jr, who is also coming off a loss, over twelve at cruiserweight at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy promote Ramirez vs Smith Jr and DAZN televise the card live worldwide.
Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) had a pretty uninspiring reign as WBO super middleweight champion from 2016 to 2018, and then moved up to light heavyweight, banking several low-key wins before finally getting his shot at the world title.
That came against Dimitry Bivol, who was coming off a superb win against Canelo Alvarez. The Russian WBA champion was too good for the 32-year-old, taking a clear points win last November.
Smith Jr (28-4, 22 KOs) is an interesting comeback opponent for ‘Zurdo’.
After losing to Bivol in 2019, the 34-year-old American took the vacant WBO title with a majority decision victory against Maxim Vlasov, and defended once before being stopped last June in two rounds against Artur Beterbiev in an attempt to claim the WBC and IBF crowns.
Prediction: Ramirez will want to get back into the world title equation, and he can do just that by halting the tough Smith, who will come to fight, but will ultimately be outgunned before halfway.
Melikuziev meets Fox
Bektemir Melikuziev (12-1, 9 KOs) is on a run of five straight wins after a knockout loss to Gabriel Rosado in June 2021, and he should be able to take an early win in his scheduled ten rounder at super middleweight against Alantez Fox (28-4-1, 13 KOs).
Prediction: Melikuziev avenged his loss to Rosado last time out, taking a wide points win over ten rounds, and he should take out Fox, who has lost his last two.
Golden Boy Promotions
Remaining Undercard
In super welterweight eight rounders, Jahyae Brown (13-1, 9 KOs) can outpoint Victor Toney (7-2-1, 6 KOs), while Eric Tudor (9-0, 6 KOs) can do the same against Jose Luis Sanchez (13-3-1, 4 KOs).
Rajon Chance (8-0-1, 6 KOs) should stay unbeaten by winning the battle of the unbeatens at super bantamweight against Orlando Perez Zapata (13-0, 9 KOs) over eight, and cruiserweight hope Tristan Kalkreuth (11-1, 8 KOs) can stop Aaron Casper (7-4-2, 5 KOs) inside their eight round distance.
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Elsewhere, super middleweight hope Darius Fulghum (7-0, 7 KOs) can extend his perfect record with a knockout win over Alan Campa (18-8, 12 KOs) in their contest set for eight rounds.
Lightweight prospect Daniel Luna (3-0, 3 KOs) should go the distance for the first time in his professional career with a points win over four against Erick Garcia Benitez (4-5, 1 KO).
