By Sean Nam
October 2, 2022
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez continues to insist that he has no qualms fighting Mexican countryman Canelo Alvarez.
Alvarez, the undisputed 168-pound champion, turned heads recently when he stated he was not interested in fighting fellow Mexicans, because it would be akin to committing an act of cultural treason. But many observers and fighters pointed out that all-Mexican fights have been a vaunted tradition in the sport and responsible for some of the greatest moments inside the ring.
As some others have pointed out, Alvarez’s résumé includes a fight with fellow Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Alvarez specifically pointed out that he was not interested in fighting Ramirez, in the event that Ramirez defeats light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol in their 175-pound WBA title match on Nov. 5 in Abu Dhabi, live on DAZN.
Ramirez’s response thus far has been to express befuddlement at that attitude. “I think the best have to fight the best,” Ramirez told FightHype.com. “Me, after I beat Bivol, I don’t care if he’s Chinese or Mexican. We’re fighters, and that’s what we do, fight with anyone.
“All the time, it’s a war, it’s an exciting show for all the fans,” Ramirez said of Mexicans fighting each other. “That’s why they have so many fights, two Mexicans in the ring.”
Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs), a former titlist at 168, pointed out that he and Alvarez were frequent sparring mates back in their amateur days, so the notion that they should not fight as professionals does not make sense to him. Alvarez is coming off a decisive points win over rival Gennadiy Golovkin in their trilogy earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“Yeah, many times in Guadalajara (sparring Alvarez),” said Ramirez, who hails from the Sinaloa region of Mexico. “I used to be a middleweight at the time, and it was a great experience for me. I was at middleweight, then super middleweight, and then light heavyweight.”
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