By Ismael Rubio

Super middleweight contender Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez will spend the Christmas festivities away from his family, because the boxer is focused in camp for the upcoming HBO televised fight with Russian fighter Maxim Vlasov, which will be held on January 24 in Bloomfield, Colorado. The fight will be the co-feature to the Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado trilogy fight.

Throughout their third week of camp in California, Ramirez accelerates the pace of training and is staying away from any remote meetings, celebrations and any other type of distraction that can break his concentration.

"For us there are no holidays, no free days. Many say it's sacrifice with leaving home [and being away from my family], but my job is first before everything. I'm leaving everything for my work, because it is my future, is what I want and why I enjoy it," Ramirez said.

The fight with Vlasov takes place at a catch-weight of 171-pounds, which is between the light heavyweight and super middleweight divisions.

"I am growing more and more as a fighter, as a person and being on HBO is what I've always wanted, is what I wanted all my life. Then we want to be in a PPV and to think about the big names. The concentration keeps us focused 100% and helps me start the year on the right foot," Ramirez concluded.