Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez successfully walked the tightrope against the naturally bigger Arsen Goulamirian to win the WBA Super World cruiserweight title, winning a unanimous decision by identical 118-110 scores. 

When did “Zurdo” know he could take Goulamirian’s power? Chris Mannix asked in the ring after the fight. 

“As soon as I stepped in that ring, I knew,” the victorious Ramírez said. 

Ramírez, the first Mexican to win a super middleweight title, began his career at middleweight. In his first official cruiserweight bout (he fought Joe Smith Jr at a contracted weight of 193 lbs) against a man who had been fighting in that division his whole career, “Zurdo,” now 46-1 with 30 knockouts, looked right at home. 

The tension in this fight centered around how Ramírez would take Goulamirian’s (27-1, 19 KOs) power. He turned the bigger man early, showing his speed advantage by slipping to one side to evade Goulamirian’s big punches. 

But “Zurdo” also showed creativity and bravery by fighting on the inside. He didn’t run from Goulamirian, even if he had to take a few power shots — and when he did, his chin proved rock-solid. Not once did Ramírez look meaningfully hurt, much less hit the deck. 

In the third round, Ramírez’s greater activity became fully apparent. He flicked out a busy jab, touching Goulamirian with body shots and was willing to engage momentarily in phone-booth exchanges. 

“Zurdo’s” money punch was the uppercut. Time after time, he sent Goulamirian’s head tilting skyward with a power shot right underneath the chin, landing with incredible consistency. 

Goulamirian had not fought since November 2022. Prior to that, his last fight was in December 2019. The inactivity showed as he proved largely unable to adapt his strategy. More responsible for the first loss of his career was the opponent. 

Round six saw a Ramírez right hand throw Goulamirian off-balance. Whether it was a lapse in footwork or the 36-year-old had been rocked, “Zurdo’s” power was clearly a factor. 

Ramírez’s uppercut continued to land constantly. Goulamirian pinned his opponent on the ropes in the seventh, but failed to land fight-changing punches. “Zurdo” didn’t go untouched, and more power shots found his chin in the late rounds, but he never blinked or lost sight of his gameplan even as Goulamirian landed clean punches.

Goulamirian picked up the pace in the tenth round with a combination early in the session. Still Ramírez looked unbothered. The fighters went toe-to-toe in the final round — there was no coasting from “Zurdo,” no clinch-happy limping to the finish line here — and the thoroughly deserved winner raised his arms after the wide decision. 

Two fights ago, Ramírez was dismantled by Dmitrii Bivol. Tonight showed that there’s plenty “Zurdo” can achieve even after losing his “0.” He expressed a desire to eventually move up to heavyweight during fight week, and that remains an ambitious goal. But tonight Ramírez showed that he has the dimensions required to make further progress.