WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez and WBO champ Chris Billiam-Smith efficiently weighed in at Friday’s weigh-in for his or her unification struggle this Saturday night time, November sixteenth. Ramirez weighed 199.6 lbs, and Billam-Smith got here in at 199.4.
(Credit score: Golden Boy / Cris Esqueda)
Throughout the face-off, an intense-looking Billiam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) stared holes by way of Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs), who initially was barely smiling however turned uncomfortable with the way in which he was checked out.
Billiam-Smith Intimidates Zurdo
On the finish of the staredown, Ramirez regarded visibly shaken from the expertise. Billiam-Smith had despatched him a message that he intends to go to warfare on Saturday night time, and he’s not taking part in round with Zurdo. Billiam-Smith had a shark-like look to him. By the way in which, he was staring intensely at Ramirez, so it won’t go effectively for the Mexican fighter on Saturday.
Weigh-in Outcomes
Gilberto Ramirez 199.6 vs. Chris Billiam-Smith 199.4
Jose Ramirez 139.6 vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. 140
William Zepeda 134.2 vs. Tevin Farmer 135
Oscar Collazo 104.8 vs. Thammooon Niyomtrong 104.8
Oscar Duarte 141.8 vs. Batyr Akhmedov 141.8
Saturday’s Ramirez-Billiam-Smith card might be proven stay on DAZN. Given all the nice fights on the cardboard, this is a wonderful deal for followers not having to pay to look at.
#1-ranked light-weight contender William Zepeda weighed in at 134.2 lbs, and Tevin Farmer got here in at 135 lbs for his or her 10-round struggle. Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) has voiced his displeasure about Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya and Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn discussing a struggle between Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) and WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson on February twenty second in a Riyadh Season occasion.
Farmer doesn’t like that he’s been neglected and seen as a mere opponent for Zepeda, but it surely’s comprehensible why. Farmer, 34, isn’t younger, and he’s not the identical fighter he as soon as was when he was campaigning at 130. At light-weight, fighters want energy to outlive, and he doesn’t have what it takes.
Shakur may study that lesson for himself if he faces Zepeda in February. Athletic, defensive fighters can’t thrive at 135 in opposition to the large hitters.
We noticed how Vasily Lomachenko struggled when he moved as much as light-weight, and Shakur regarded the identical in his ONLY struggle in opposition to a very good opponent within the division, Edwin De Los Santos.
Former unified gentle welterweight champion Jose Ramirez weighed in at 134.2, and Arnold Barboza Jr. got here in at 139.6 lbs for his or her 10-round struggle. Ramirez (29-1, 19 KOs) is on the lookout for his fourth straight win since shedding to Josh Taylor by an in depth 12-round unanimous choice three years in the past on Might twenty second, 2021.
It’s troublesome to know what the 32-year-old Ramirez has left as a result of he’s been rebuilding since that defeat. It shouldn’t have taken this lengthy for Ramirez to return again, but it surely has, and Saturday is a vital check to see if he can nonetheless cling with the perfect. #1 WBO Barboza (30-0, 11 KOs) is coming off a controversial 10-round break up choice to Sean McComb on April twentieth. Numerous followers thought Barboza deserved a loss in that struggle, and so did I.
WBO Minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo weighed in at 104.8 lbs, and WBA champ Thammanoon Niyomtrong got here in at 104.8 for his or her unification struggle.
Light-weight contender Oscar Duarte and his opponent Bortirzhon Akhmedov each got here in at 141.8 for his or her 10-round struggle.
“If Zepeda wins and appears dangerous, that’s good for him. It makes the struggle occur a bit faster,” stated Chris Algieri to Proox about William Zepeda benefiting by not impressing in opposition to Tevin Farmer.
“Shakur is coming off that hand surgical procedure and going straight right into a struggle with Zepeda. I don’t suppose it is going to occur. You’re going to have Zepeda proper in entrance of you. Shakur goes to should crack Zepeda.
It’s attainable that Zepeda goes to blitz Farmer and take him out shortly on this struggle as a result of he’s too highly effective for the previous IBF tremendous featherweight champion.
