By Norm Frauenheim-
LAS VEGAS — Unbeaten Mexican super-middleweight Gilberto Ramirez came to The Strip, hoping to land a shot at the Wold Boxing Organization’s 168-pound title.
Turns out, more than just a mandatory will be at skate Friday night when Ramirez (32-0, 24 KOs) faces Gevorg Khatchikan of the Netherlands (23-1,11 KOs) at The Cosmopolitan in a TruTV-televised bout (10 p.m. ET/PT).
Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin plans to be at ringside in what might prove to be more than just a night out as a fan.
Ramirez promoter Bob Arum said he has talked to Tom Loeffler, the executive director of K2, Golovkin’s promoter.
Arum said they have discussed a Ramirez-GGG bout next year.
“But it will only happen if Gilberto can win tomorrow night, thus preserving his mandatory challenge for the world title, and then beating WBO world champion Arthur Abraham,” Arum said Thursday in a Top Rank news release. “That’s a lot of pressure to put on most fighters’ shoulders, but Gilberto seems to thrive on it. He has said all along that he only wants to fight the best, even if it means fighting Abraham and Golovkin back-to-back.”
