The WBC ordered Ramirez vs. Browne this past Monday because reigning WBC light heavyweight World champion אַרטור בעטערביעוו (15-0, 15 קאָס) hasn’t defended his title since capturing it October 18, 2019, due to getting COVID-19 during training camp, as well as for other pandemic related restrictions. Beterbiev is also the reigning International Boxing Federation (יבף) light heavyweight World champion.
Ramirez is the No. 1 light heavyweight contender in the WBC ratings, while Browne is ranked No. 4. Team Zurdo and Team Browne have until February 5טה to work out a deal before it’ll go to purse bid. Martinez is promoted by his own company, Zurdo Promotions, while Browne is represented by PBC.
“This is an interesting opportunity and I’m ready to fight anyone in the light heavyweight division to leave my mark on the sport,” Ramirez said. “I know Marcus has been out of the ring for a while, but he’s a U.S. Olympian and still one of the best in the game. I know he’s wanted this fight for a while and hopefully we can make something happen.
“דערצו, it’s always been my dream to get the green belt (וובק) and bring it back to Mexico. I have a lot of respect for the WBC and Mauricio Suliman and I am grateful for all their love and support throughout my career.”
לעצטע חודש, Ramirez fought for the first time in 20 חדשים, stopping defending champion Alfonso “אל טיגרע” לאָפּעז (32-4, 25 קאָס) in the 10th round of the “Battle of Rio Grande” הויפּט געשעעניש, which marked the debut of Zurdo Promotions.
The 29-year-old Ramirez became the first Mexican fighter to capture a world super middleweight crown in 2016, when the ultra-gifted, athletic southpaw pitched a complete shutout against defending title holder “קעניג” אַרטהור אברהם(44-4), winning each round for a 12-round unanimous decision (120-106 רענטגענ 3) to become the World Boxing Organization (וובאָ) וועלט מייַסטער.
Ramirez successful defended his WBO title five times against 33-4-1 Maksym Bursak (DEC12), 22-0 Jessie Hart (DEC12), 25-0-1 Habib Ahmed (25-0-1), 23-0 Roemer Alexis Angulo (DEC12), and Hart again in a rematch (DEC12). “סאָוטהפּאַוו” moved up to the light heavyweight division in 2019, destroying 29-6-1 טאַמי קאַרפּענסי, who was unable to continue fighting after four rounds.
A talented southpaw as well, Browne was a decorated U.S. amateur out of New York City, who won gold medals at the 2010 יוז. לאַנדיש כאַווער טשאַמפּיאָנשיפּס און 2012 יוז. לאַנדיש טשאַמפּיאָנשיפּס, prior to representing the U.S. at the Olympic Games in London.
בראַון, 30, is a past WBA Interim light heavyweight World champion. He has beaten a pair of word champions, 22-1-3 באַדאָו דזשאַק (DEC12) און 25-7-1 גאַבריעל קאַמפּיללאָ (25-7-2). Other notable opponents he has defeated include 21-0 ראַדיוואָדזשע קאַלאַדזשדזיק (DEC8), 20-2 טאמעס ווילליאַמס (KO6), 28-0 שאָן מאָנאַגהאַן (טקאָ2), און 18-1-1 לענין קאַסטיאָו (DEC10). Browne’s last fight was August 3, 2019, when he suffered his first loss as a professional to former world champion דזשין פּאַסקאַל(33-6-1) via an eight-round technical decision, after Browne suffered a severe cut over his left eye from an accidental head-butt.
“There are always challenges to making a fight become reality,” Ramirez concluded, “but me being both the fighter and sole promoter, I’m flexible on the common problems that takes to make a fight. I’m not sure how much time Marcus will need to be ready, but both time and location can be determined when the other preliminary items are agreed upon. If it goes to a purse bid, I’m ready for the process and, hopefully, this fight can happen for both of us.”
אינפֿאָרמאַציע:
וועבזייַטל: www.ZurdoPromotions.com
ינסטאַגראַם: @zurdoramirez, @zurdopromotions
טוויטטער: @ZurdoPromotions, @GilbertoZurdoRamirez