This past Friday night, former WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (42-0, 28 KOs) scored a fourth round knockout victory against Cuban veteran Sullivan Barrera (22-4, 14 KOs) at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

The DAZN streamed bout was the first for Ramirez under his new promotional agreement with Golden Boy Promotions. Last year, he parted ways with Top Rank.

Ramirez vacated the WBO title at 168-pounds in 2019, and made his light heavyweight debut in the same year.

Barrera, a career light heavyweight with a mountain of experience, was the toughest opponent to date for Ramirez at 175.

After being unable to land clean to the head, Ramirez dug to the body in the third round and sent Barrera down in pain. He continued the body assault in the fourth, which sent Barrera down two more times and forced the referee to stop the contest at 1:38 of the round.

Ramirez believes his career sent a loud message to the entire weight class.

He now wants to face the reigning beltholders at 175 - including WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, WBC/IBF champion Artur Beterbiev and WBO champion Joe Smith.

“I think my performance was great,” said Zurdo Ramirez.

“I was training for the body shot. And I think it was beautiful. At 175 pounds, everyone saw a better Zurdo Ramirez. This is my division. I’m going to take the souls of all the champions in the 175-pound division.” 

The easiest title fight to make would be against Bivol - because both he and Ramirez are currently being showcased on DAZN. Beterbiev and Smith are aligned with Top Rank and ESPN - and the two champions are being lined up to face each other in a three belt unification in the fall.