Gilberto Ramirez vs. Yuniel Dorticos: Preview And Prediction

However, Dorticos only just missed out on claiming the Muhammad Ali Trophy after a majority-decision defeat to Latvia’s Mairis Briedis. It’s fair to say that Dorticos has an incredible pedigree, and other than Jai Opetaia, he’s worthy and dangerous enough to get his shot at the unified title. A concern for the Cuban knockout artist is that his level of opposition and activity has drastically declined since the final against Briedis on September 26, 2020. After nearly five years, Dorticos had only three fights: against the 20-5-2 Jesse Bryan, an 18-12 Deibis Berrocal, and a 19-9 Alan Campa. To be fair, he knocked all three of them out early.

Ramirez, meanwhile, has been tearing through the cruiserweight division to collect two belts in as many fights at his new weight class. At the time, WBA champion Arsen Goulamirian lost nearly every round during a comprehensive defeat last March. Zurdo would next swipe the WBO belt from England’s Chris Billam-Smith in Riyadh last November, in another high-level performance. Mexico’s first-ever super middleweight and cruiserweight world champion is quickly making a claim for an International Boxing Hall of Fame nomination, in my opinion. Questions naturally arise when any fighter moves up a weight division: Can he take a punch up there? So far, so very good from Ramirez.

Gilberto Ramirez vs. Yuniel Dorticos Prediction  

Can Ramirez stop the well-seasoned Dorticos? I doubt it, but the inactivity over the last five years does hint at a rough night for the Cuban. Can Dorticos stop Ramirez? Twenty-five knockouts in 27 victories, all at cruiserweight, makes you believe he might be able to pull it off.

It feels to me like a fight that goes the distance unless Dorticos’s abilities have drastically decreased over the years away from the WBSS. Experience should never be dismissed, but what feels like a prime Ramirez at the moment, he should be able to box his way through to claim another unanimous-decision victory. The Mexican looks at home at cruiserweight, standing at 6ft 2in, while Dorticos’s mandatory might have come a year or two too late.