Gilberto Ramírez opts for the ‘easy’ defense: the champion faces Dorticos instead of the opening of Opetaia

The CMB cruise champion and the OMB, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramírez (47-1, 30 kos) has chosen to defend his two belts against the #1 conserter of the CMB Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 kos) on June 28.

The ring informs that Ramírez, 30, has chosen to defend against the 39 years Dortics below. That fight will not attract almost so much interest as if Ramírez had agreed to face the FIB Jai Opetaia champion in a unification match. This fight will not move the needle with fans, but it gives Gilberto the opportunity to hold on to his two titles a little more.

Dorticos: Then and now

Gilberto Ramírez’s Dorticos Section will please sentimental Major fans, who remember how exciting the Cuban fighter was during his best years many years ago. However, Dorticos has not surpassed the notable opponents since their victories about Andrew Tabiti in 2019 and Mateusz Masternak In 2018. Even those two were more marginal level than the fighters of the quality of the trees. That is a lot, a long time for a fighter to go among confronted contestants. That is why Dorticos is a bad choice for Ramírez promoted by Golden Boy to defend himself. If the idea is to milked its two belts as long as possible, it is a great option.

Ramírez took a punishment of a race in his last fight, surpassing Chris Billiam-Smith for a unanimous decision of 12 rounds in a war on November 16 of last year in Riad. Some of the shots in the head that Gilberto absorbed in that tough Billiam-Smith struggle were brutal. After that fight, it is understandable why Ramírez is choosing to defend himself against the 40 -year -old Yuniel instead of facing the Jai Opetaia guillotine.

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

Division status

The World Boxing Association has given Dorticos a #1 ranking, but the level of opposition that has expired in its last three fights suggests that it should be classified near the lower place of the 15. It also reflects how weak is the cruise weight division now. It is one of the weakest weight classes in sport, next to the Welter and medium weight weight divisions.

The last three opponents of Dorticos

-Alan Campa-19-9
-Deibis Berrocal-18-12
-Stest Bryan-20-5-2

The former IBF cruise champion and the environments once was one of the best names of the division. However, he has only fought once since he lost his IBF title to Mairis Briedis for a majority decision of 12 rounds on September 26, 2020.

It seems that Dorticos has gotten into the adjustment circuit and has remained in it for the past five years instead of fighting the world -class opposition again. Who knows what is the reason for that: a lack of ambition or confidence on the part of Dortics?

How do you fight only three years against the second level opposition? When you see a fighter who has been inactive for a long time, there is a reason behind this. Did that loss for Briedis do something for the belief of Dortics?