A renowned cruiserweight champion is considering an ambitious leap to the heavyweight division. This move could open the door to a long-awaited fight against one of the strongest names in this division.
After losing his first bout against Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury is preparing to face the heavyweight champion once again in an eagerly awaited rematch. Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, and IBO titles, will face Fury on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Ukrainian champion’s prominence has not gone unnoticed, and now a cruiserweight champion has set his sights on him.
Cruiserweight champion and former super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez is one of the names mentioned in relation to Usyk. Ramirez, who holds an impressive record of 46 wins and only one loss, is exploring the possibility of moving up to the heavyweight division.
In a recent interview with Seconds Out, Ramirez stated that he would welcome a fight against Usyk if the latter continues to dominate the division.
Before any potential encounter with Usyk, Ramirez will face Chris Billam-Smith on Saturday, November 16 in a cruiserweight title unification bout. However, Ramirez does not hide his interest in Usyk. “Usyk is a small heavyweight but a champion right,” commented Ramirez.
“I think it would be a good match. I have been watching him and following him a lot. I’d probably meet him at heavyweight,” Ramirez said.
It is worth noting that Usyk has achieved a historic career in boxing, being a world champion in two weight categories and the first boxer to unify all four major titles in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. As the undisputed cruiserweight champion from 2018 to 2019, Usyk defended his titles with great skill, and after transitioning to heavyweight, he solidified his place by defeating Anthony Joshua in 2021 to win the WBA (Super), WBO, and IBO titles.
In 2024, Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury, capturing the WBC title and becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion, a feat previously achieved only by Evander Holyfield and David Haye.
In addition to his professional success, Usyk excelled in his amateur career, winning gold at the 2011 World Championship and the 2012 Olympic Games. Due to his rapid achievement of these milestones, he is considered one of Ukraine’s greatest boxers and was recognized as Fighter of the Year in 2018 by multiple specialized media.
Ramirez doesn’t limit himself to admiring Usyk from afar; he also shared his prediction for the Usyk-Fury rematch:
“Usyk [will win]. He has so much skill and he moves really good; he needs to be really sharp that night,” concluded Ramirez.
It is noteworthy that a jump from super middleweight to the heavyweight division is a considerable feat.
Boxer Roy Jones Jr. was the first middleweight champion to also be crowned heavyweight champion, reigning in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions.
On the other hand, there’s also James Toney, though he tested positive in a doping test after winning the heavyweight belt. He subsequently had to vacate the WBA heavyweight title. Toney defended himself, claiming it was a prescription for a medical injury, but he never appealed the decision and served the three-month suspension.
Lastly, legendary Bob Fitzsimmons was the first boxer in boxing history to become world champion in three divisions, which, though almost routine today, was unimaginable when he achieved it in the late 19th century in the middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions.
For now, Usyk is focused on the rematch with Fury, where he could reaffirm his undisputed champion status. A victory could open the door to a unification with interim champion Daniel Dubois. However, Ramirez’s potential entry into the heavyweight division could add a new challenge to Usyk’s path, possibly leading to fresh matchups in 2025.
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