Former world champion Gilberto “Zurdo'' Ramirez is ready to face another Cuban veteran, when he takes on Yunieski Gonzalez on December 18 in San Antonio, Texas. DAZN will stream the contest.

The bout has been sanctioned as a WBA final eliminator at 175-pounds, with the winner getting a crack at world champion Dmitry Bivol.

Ramirez is coming off a knockout win over another Cuban fighter, Sullivan Barrera.

The Mexican boxer is taking this fight very seriously - as he's one step away from securing a mandatory crack at Bivol.

The goal for Ramirez is to unify titles at 175 and then eventually make a move to cruiserweight. 

“I started to watch [Gonzalez's] videos, to investigate him, but I was ready, because I was training and waiting to face Dmitry Bivol. Unfortunately, it didn't happen, but the good thing is that I come back against this fighter who comes forward all the time. It's going to be a good fight," Ramirez told George Ebro.

“I don't take any challenge lightly. I know that he will come prepared, that it is the fight of his life and that he will not miss that moment. I take it very seriously, because this fight is to define the mandatory challenger to the champion. He knows how important this fight is and we both want to win. But in the end I'm going to win.

"I feel better [at 175-pounds], I have gained muscle mass. I am now a native in the light heavyweight division. In the super middleweight division it was already difficult for me to make the weight. I also know that at 175, eventually, I am going to have a hard time staying at the weight and I will have to go cruiserweight."