RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (November 11, 2024) – Chris Billam-Smith‘s world cruiserweight title unification fight with Gilberto Ramirez this Saturday is live on Sky Sports.
BOXXER’s Billam-Smith, the WBO champion, takes on WBA titlist Ramirez in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a hugely significant fight for the weight division, with live coverage from 5pm on Sky Sports Mix.
“Zurdo” Ramirez is a formidable opponent. He was the first Mexican to become a super-middleweight and cruiserweight world champion and is looking to take over the 200lb division.
He has only lost once in his career, to great light-heavyweight Dmitry Bivol. But Billam-Smith is in a rich vein of form himself. Most recently he avenged his only previous loss in a successful world title defence against Richard Riakporhe. That was Billam-Smith’s third consecutive victory in a world championship contest.
“It’s an exciting unification fight against someone who has only been beaten by Bivol,” Billam-Smith said. “It’s a very hard test and it would be an honour for me to become unified champion.”
Ramirez said: “I’m excited to make this fight happen with Chris Billam-Smith. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m looking forward to becoming the unified champion in this division.
“I’ve always said this was my division and I’m happy for the opportunity to showcase my skills at this level on a global stage in Riyadh.
“It’s truly an honour to be a Mexican warrior and to showcase what true Mexican boxing is all about while bringing my culture to a global audience.”
BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s great news for fight fans that Chris Billam-Smith’s historic clash with Gilberto Ramirez is now available to watch live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
“We’re delighted to be working with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Oscar De La Hoya to stage this epic world title unification. Riyadh Season is all about bringing the best together, and on Saturday, we have two champions at the height of their powers ready to go toe-to-toe and lay it all on the line.”
Chris Billam-Smith vs Gilberto Ramirez is a co-promotion between BOXXER and Golden Boy. The hotly anticipated cruiserweight world title unification tops ‘Latino Night’, an unmissable night of action bringing together top names in the world of boxing as part of Riyadh Season.