Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, the former WBO World Super Middleweight champion, and Chris Billam-Smith, the reigning WBO World Cruiserweight champion, faced off in a cruiserweight clash on Latino Night, held at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Both fighters brought their A-game, with Ramirez showcasing his trademark pressure while Billam-Smith tried to hold his ground. The action-packed fight saw Ramirez slowly gain the upper hand as the rounds progressed, with his powerful combinations taking a toll on Billam-Smith, who sustained a cut on his eyelid early on. By the later rounds, Ramirez was firmly in control, though Billam-Smith displayed resilience, continuing to press forward despite the damage. The judges scored it unanimously in favor of Ramirez, who emerged victorious with scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 116-113.
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In the co-main event, former 2012 Olympian and former light welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez faced off against Arnold Barboza Jr. in a closely contested 10-round bout. Barboza used his superior footwork and jab to outbox Ramirez, who struggled to close the distance effectively. While Ramirez had his moments, especially in the mid-rounds, Barboza's consistent counterpunching and disciplined strategy gave him the edge. The judges awarded Barboza a unanimous decision with scores of 97-93, 96-94, and 96-94, handing him a significant win over a decorated opponent.
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Meanwhile, William Zepeda, ranked No. 1 in all four major sanctioning bodies, took on former IBF Super Featherweight champion Tevin Farmer in a 10-round battle. Farmer showcased his slick defensive skills, even managing to drop Zepeda in the fourth round with a sharp counter. However, Zepeda's relentless aggression and high-volume punching eventually overwhelmed Farmer, particularly in the later rounds. The fight was extremely close, with the judges split on their verdict. In the end, Zepeda secured a narrow victory with scores of 95-94, 95-94, and 95-94, solidifying his status as a top contender in the lightweight division.
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Oscar Collazo put on an impressive performance against Thammanoon "CP Freshmart" Niyomtrong in their unification fight for the minimumweight titles. Collazo dominated the early rounds, applying relentless pressure and landing precise combinations. In the sixth round, he dropped CP Freshmart with a sharp counter, and by the seventh, he had his opponent on the canvas again. The referee waved off the contest after the second knockdown in the seventh round, giving Collazo a TKO victory and unifying the belts.
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Oscar Duarte faced Botirzhon Akhmedov in a super lightweight bout that saw both fighters trading heavy blows throughout the 10 rounds. Akhmedov started strong, using his southpaw stance to control the early rounds, but Duarte gradually found his rhythm, landing clean shots as Akhmedov began to tire. Duarte's consistent pressure in the latter half of the fight swayed the judges, who scored it in his favor, granting him a hard-earned decision victory.
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In a welterweight clash, Ziyad "Zizo" Almaayouf and Juan Carlos "Demoledor" Garcia fought to a majority draw over six rounds. The fight was a back-and-forth affair, with both fighters having their moments. Garcia, a late replacement, managed to rock Almaayouf and drew blood from his nose, while Almaayouf relied on his jab to control portions of the fight. Despite Garcia’s strong finish, the judges couldn't reach a consensus, resulting in a draw.
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Image Credit: Golden Boy Promotions