Gilberto Ramirez and Joe Smith Set to Clash in Las Vegas on October 7th

Former World Champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) Enters Cruiserweight Division, Faces Former Light Heavyweight Champ Joe "Common Man" Smith Jr. (28-4, 22 KOs) on October 7

In a highly anticipated 12-round showdown, Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, the former WBO super middleweight world champion, is stepping into the cruiserweight division for the first time to take on the iron-willed former light heavyweight world champion, Joe "Common Man" Smith Jr. The bout, presented in partnership with Star Boxing, will unfold live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Ramirez, boasting nearly 15 years of professional experience, aims to showcase his prowess as a two-division titleholder. With notable victories over fighters like Maxim Vlasov, Jessie "Hard Work" Hart, and "King" Arthur Abraham, Ramirez is determined to bounce back from his only career setback, a valiant effort against Dmitrii Bivol in November 2022. He is eager to prove himself among the heavy hitters in the cruiserweight division.

On the other side, Joe Smith Jr., known for defying expectations, secured the WBO light heavyweight world title with a relentless performance against Maxim Vlasov in April 2021. He successfully defended his title against Steve Geffrard in January 2022 before facing Artur Beterbiev in a significant unification clash in June of the same year. Smith's impressive resume includes victories over boxing legend Bernard Hopkins, former world champion Eleider Alvarez, and notable contenders Jessie Hart and Andrzej Fonfara. Smith, a fighter who has earned the respect of the "common man," is making his cruiserweight debut in this compelling matchup against Ramirez.