Gilberto Ramirez has the chance to become Mexico’s first cruiserweight world champion when he fights Arsen Goulamirian in Inglewood, California, on March 30.
The Armenia-born Goulamirian (27-0, 19 KOs) defends his WBA belt at the YouTube Theater, just outside Los Angeles, in his American debut. Ramirez, 32, will be making his first official appearance in his new weight class.
“It is exciting that he is taking the risk in coming to the U.S. and L.A.,” Ramirez told boxingscene.com. “It’s a great fight for the Mexican fans, for myself and all the people because they all want to see good fights. It is going to be two champions in the ring, live, on a great platform like DAZN. The Golden Boy family has supported me a lot to get this opportunity. It is very motivating.”
Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) scored a unanimous-decision win over Joe Smith Jr. in a catchweight bout last October. The former super middleweight champion previously had a fight with Gabriel Rosado canceled when he missed the light heavyweight limit by more than seven pounds.
“I had the fight with Joe Smith Jr. in my last fight, a former world champion, and now I’m going to face the champion at cruiserweight,” Ramirez said. “This is great for me – all I want to do is fight the best. I need the good fights with great fighters because I want to be the best.
“I feel good at the weight. I feel healthy. I was big even for 175. I feel right at cruiserweight. Nature said ‘no’ to me being at light heavyweight – it was needed to move up. Part of the motivation right now is that I feel natural at this new weight. My body is happy, I’m happy. I don’t need to lose 20 pounds anymore. It’s much more comfortable.”
Goulamirian, 36, defeated the unbeaten Russian Aleksei Egorov last November, after having been inactive for nearly three years. He now trains with Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, California.
“I know he has been training really hard for this fight,” Ramirez said. “It is an interesting fight because he does come forward. Me, too, and I like to fight. It will be a good fight.
“I’ve been training with some big guys. I like to do that anyway when I don’t have a fight – I like to challenge myself. I like to be in the ring with really good fighters.”
In 2016, Ramirez defeated Arthur Abraham to become Mexico’s first world champion at 168 pounds. He missed the chance to achieve the same feat at light heavyweight, but he has another opportunity to deliver a milestone as his nation’s first cruiserweight champion.
“I was a little sad that I couldn’t conquer 175,” Ramirez said. “There is no point complaining about it – this is my new beginning. I will make a statement this time, I will look way more different.
“I’m making history; there has never been a Mexican in that division. I made history before, I will make history again. It’s such a huge motivation. I want to unify the division, make more history – but first I want to focus on this title. I don’t know if I am going to knock him out or if I go the distance, but I am ready for anything. I’m getting my hand raised that night. That’s all that matters.”