WBO Champion Billam-Smith Meets WBA Titleholder

WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith is set to face WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez in a highly anticipated unification bout on November 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This fight will mark Billam-Smith’s third title defense. The 34-year-old British fighter previously earned a stoppage win over Mateusz Masternak in December and secured a points victory against Richard Riakporhe in June.

Ramirez, a 33-year-old Mexican won the WBA cruiserweight title in March, making history as the first Mexican to claim a cruiserweight championship. He defeated Arsen Goulamirian to earn the title. Ramirez boasts an impressive 46-1 record with 30 knockouts and previously held the WBO super-middleweight title from 2016 to 2019. Billam-Smith, known as ‘The Gentleman’, won the WBO cruiserweight title by beating Lawrence Okolie in May 2023.

The fight took place at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium. His recent victory over the previously unbeaten Riakporhe at Selhurst Park, London, avenged his only loss in a 21-fight career. The unification bout between Billam-Smith and Ramirez promises to be a thrilling clash of champions with both fighters bringing impressive records and recent successes into the ring.

The event in Riyadh will be a significant moment in the cruiserweight division as both boxers aim to solidify their status as the top cruiserweight in the world.