It’s not only the very best, most important, we-need-to-see-it fight that can be made in the cruiserweight division right now, it is also one of the potentially most exciting fights that can be made right now at any weight. Jai Opetaia Vs. Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez: who wins? Who is the A-side here is also a decent question, don’t you agree?
Australian southpaw Opetaia is unbeaten and he currently holds the IBF belt along with the Ring Magazine title. Ramirez has been beaten just once, on points by Dmitry Bivol down at 175 pounds, and the Mexican currently holds both the WBA and the WBO titles.
Both men called each other out not long after “Zurdo’s” decision win over Yuniel Dorticos on Saturday night. Now, Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis has said talks for the fight will get underway “in the coming weeks.”
Francis agrees with all the people who say this is a fight that simply has to happen.
“The time for talk is over,” Francis said on social media. “Jai is the true lineal champion and the most dangerous cruiserweight in the world. We have nothing but respect for Ramirez and what he’s achieved, but this is the fight that boxing needs. I have complete faith that Ramirez will do the right thing and accept this challenge. The fans deserve to see the best against the best.”
Agreed on all points, apart from who might be the most dangerous cruiserweight out there right now. As many supporters as Opetai will have regarding the distinction, Ramirez will of course also have his supporters. That’s what makes this such a great fight in the making. Since talk of this fight began, the showdown has got bigger and bigger. Really, Ramirez-Opetaia is one of the two or three best match-ups you could point to right now.
Whether it’s this year or next year (hopefully the former), this cruiserweight unification clash must take place.
Jai Opetaia Says He’s On “Another Level” To Zurdo Ramirez
Which of the following two fights would you most prefer to see happen: Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Vs. Jai Opetaia, this in a cruiserweight unification clash, or Zurdo against David Benavidez, who would be moving up from the 175 pound division to take the fight?
Chances are good you will say you’d love to see both fights, but that possibility aside for down the road, it seems it will be either one of these fights that we see next.
Last night, Ramirez defeated a tough (and at times dirty) Yuniel Dorticos to retain his WBA and WBO cruiserweight belts, and he called for a fight with IBF champ Opetaia after having his hand raised. Opetaia didn’t waste much time at all in returning the call. But Opetaia has stated that he is on “another level” to Zurdo.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I’m the best cruiserweight on the planet,” Opetaia said in an official statement. “Ramirez put on a good performance against Dorticos, but if he really believes he’s the number one, then there’s only one way to prove it. I’m sick of all the excuses and delays…..Let’s unify the division once and for all.”
Ramirez’s camp leaning Benavidez – which fight should happen?
But Opetaia could indeed face more delays as far as landing a fight with Zurdo. Last night, Zurdo’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya suggested the fight to make, the really marketable fight to make, could be a Ramirez-Benavidez showdown. That fight, one “Mexican Monster” Benavidez has been expressing some real interest in for a while now, would also be something fans would love to see.
So, it’s now down to the best offer Ramirez gets as far as whether he faces Opetaia or Benavidez next. But to repeat, either fight would be great as far as the fans go.
Zurdo Vs. Opetaia: who wins?
Zurdo Vs. Benavidez: who wins?
