Antonio Ramirez ready to give Raul Balbi a "Real Fight!"

26.10 - ANTONIO RAMIREZ, the dynamo from the Dominican Republic, will replace the injured Juan Gomez-Trinidad as the opponent for former world champion Raul Balbi, in "Real Fights!" - the pay-per-view extravaganza featuring four main event bouts, Saturday, November 9, at the beautiful Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort, in Chester, WV. Ramirez and Balbi will go mano a mano a 10-round lightweight battle.

Ramirez, 19-5-5 (15 KOs), has a resume that boasts knockout victories over Victoriano Sosa, Ernesto Zepeda and Terrance Churchwill, who had a combined record of 48-4-3 - a winning percentage exceeding 87%! None of the three made it past the fourth round.

The Ramirez's trophy case includes the Dominican Republic National super featherweight title, the FECARBOX super featherweight title (Caribbean and Central America) and the NABO super featherweight title.

This year, Ramirez has fought twice. In June he lost a very controversial majority decision to Angel Manfredy. A fight spectators and media alike thought Ramirez won. He stopped Jose Luis Baltazar, 30-18-2, in the second round of their October 4 fight.

Balbi, 48-6-1 (33 KOs), captured the WBA lightweight title, in 2001, the old-fashioned way, by literally taking the fight to the defending champion - Julien Lorcy - and fighting him in Lorcy's own backyard - France, winning a hard-fought 12-round majority decision. Balbi lost the title in January, in his first defense, losing a disputed split decision to Leonard Dorin, which was so controversial the WBA ordered an immediate rematch. The fight was so competitive it was a candidate for "Fight of the Year." The rematch took place in May, with Dorin again winning by decision. Balbi's impressive resume includes the WBA-Latin America, WBO-Latin America and South American lightweight titles. He is currently world-rated No. 5 by the WBA.

Trinidad suffered a partially torn tendon in his left hand in training forcing him to withdraw from the Balbi fight.

Promoted by Michael Acri Boxing Promotions, in association with DiBella Entertainment, the PPV telecast will begin at 9 P.M. EST /6 P.M. PST. It will be distributed by iN DEMAND with a suggested retail price of $24.95. Call your local cable/satellite provider for details.