Gilberto Ramirez opts for “easy” defense: the champion faces Dorticos instead of Opetaia’s unification

The WBA and Wbo champion of Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (47-1, 30 kos) has chosen to defend his two belts against the contestant #1 of the WBA, Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 kos) on June 28.

The ring reports that Ramírez, 30, has decided to defend the 39 years Dorticos Next. This struggle will not attract almost as much interest as if Ramirez had agreed to face the IBF champion Jai Opetaia in a unification party. This struggle will not move the needle with the fans, but it gives Gilberto the possibility of maintaining a little more in his two titles.

Dorticos: Then and now

The Dorticos section of Gilberto Ramirez will like sentimental Older fans, reminiscent of the exciting Cuban fighter during his best years ago. However, Dorticos has not exceeded the prominent opponents since its victories Andrew Tabiti In 2019 and Mateusz Masternak In 2018, even these two were more at a strip level than the fighters of the quality of the trees. It is a long and long time for a fighter to spend among the contestants. That is why Dorticos is a bad choice to defend Ramírez promoted by a golden boy. If the idea is that you mount your two belts as long as possible, this is a great option.

Ramirez took a punishment for his last struggle in his last struggle, surpassing Chris Billiam-Smith for a 12-round unanimous decision in a war on November 16 last year in Riyadh. Some of the heads of head that Gilberto absorbed in that struggle from the heavy hand Billiam-Smith were brutal. After this struggle, it is understandable why Ramírez decides to defend himself against Yuniel of 40 ISH instead of addressing the guillotine Jai Opetaia.

Dorticos has not fought against anyone in five years and it is not clear how much he has left the tank at his age.

State of the division

The World Boxing Association has given Dorticos a ranking number 1, but the level of opposition that has been beaten in its last three fights suggests that it should be classified near first place. It also reflects the weak heavy weight division now. It is one of the weakest weight classes in the sport, along with heavy weight divisions and heavy weight.

The last three Dorticos opponents

-An Campa-19-9
-Deibis Berrocal-18-12
-Jesse Bryan-20-5-2

The ex -Cross -Champion of IBF and WBA cruisers, Dorticos, was once one of the main names of the division. However, he has only struggled once since he lost the title of IBF Mairis briedis With a majority decision of 12 rounds on September 26, 2020.

It seems that Dorticos has entered the tune circuit and remained for the last five years instead of returning to the fight against world -class opposition. Who knows what is the reason for this: A lack of ambition or confidence on the part of Dorticos?

How can only be fought three in five years against the second -level opposition? When you see a fighter who has been inactive for a long time, there is a reason behind. Did this loss for Briedis do something in Dorticos’s own belief?