A loss to Dmitry Bivol was a difficult one to accept. It isn’t because Bivol is some ho-hum fighter, in fact, he’s a pound-for-pound star. Still, despite his stature, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez believed that he had what it took to knock him off his high horse. After 12 incredibly lopsided rounds, however, Zurdo realized that he was in over his head.
The 32-year-old could’ve dusted himself off, ironed out the kinks in his game, and worked his way back up the ladder. That, of course, would’ve required more of those painful weight cuts. So, instead of continuing to boil himself down, Zurdo decided to make the cruiserweight division his new home.
In his debut, Zurdo (45-1, 30 KOs) took on fellow former 175-pounder, Joe Smith Jr. It wasn’t the easiest night at the office, but Zurdo managed to pick up the win at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It was a meager schedule for the former super middleweight champ, making just one appearance. With another outing unlikely, he’s now looking ahead. Activity is something Zurdo is hoping for in 2024. That and a historic world title reign.
“To become a world champion, the first Mexican world champion cruiserweight,” Ramirez told Hot Boxing Minute during a recent interview when asked to expound upon his goals for 2024. “That’s my plan for next year.”
Etching his name in history is fueling Zurdo. And, with the cruiserweight landscape bereft of any notable names, he knows that, if he continues to win, he’ll land a world title shot sooner rather than later.
The Mexican native isn’t picky, never has been. But, if we lived in a conjectural world and Zurdo was the head honcho who could take on whomever he pleased, there would be two names that immediately jumped to the top of his hit list.
“I want the WBA champion or Badou Jack.”