WBO Super Middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez injured his right hand that will force his title defense against Dominik Britsch to be postponed, according to Dan Rafael of eson.com.

The bout was ticketed for the July 23rd Terence Crawford – Viktor Postol Junior Welterweight unification Pay-Pay-Per view card.

“Gilberto Ramirez sustained an injury to the third knuckle of his right hand after a punch to the head of his sparring partner,” Dr. Steven Shin said in a statement given to ESPN.com. “I examined Gilberto later (Tuesday) and ordered an MRI of his right hand. The MRI revealed a complete tear of the ulnar sagittal band at the third metacarpophalangeal joint (knuckle) of his right hand, a region of the hand that is commonly injured in boxers. Gilberto will undergo surgery this Friday for repair of this injury. We anticipate that the soonest he will be able to fight competitively will be in approximately five months.”

“I was in top shape and on weight but I know these kinds of things can happen in boxing,” Ramirez said. “I will recover and come back stronger physically and mentally. I have a long boxing career in front of me and for sure a lot of big fights will be coming my way.”

“It’s been sore since that fight,” Gibbons said. “The he banged it up again against [Gevorg] Khatchikian in November when he hit on the elbow. It’s always been tender and had issues, and this time it just went ‘boom.’ But it’s better for this to happen during a sparring session than in the fight. It’s horrible, but it is what is. He’s very disappointed, but you have to be a realist. You keep your spirits up, but it’s just a bummer after working so hard to get the title. But he’ll come to Vegas for the fight and talk to the media, enjoy himself and rehab.”

“I talked to the doctor, and I’ve all the confidence in him,” Arum said. “Dr. Shin said it would have been crazy to go through with the fight and the best thing is to get an operation.”

“We’ll fill the spot,” Arum said. “We’re working on it, and we’ll have something. Zurdo was really picking up traction, but we still have Valdez; Benavidez against Santana, which will be a hell of a fight; and a great main event. Does losing Zurdo’s fight hurt? A little bit. Is it devastating? No.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the July 23 HBO PPV fight between WBO 140 lb champion and WBC titleholder Viktor Postol is now set for Las Vegas.

“It’s a very good matchup, the best you can make in the junior welterweight division,” Top Rank CEO Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “What it really is is a fight for supremacy in the division. I’m very pleased with it, and I think it will be a very competitive fight.”

“This is a great opportunity to show the world I’m the best champion at 140 pounds,” Crawford said.

Cameron Dunkin, Crawford’s co-manager, said he was pleased to get Crawford such a meaningful fight.

“This is a great fight, and Terence will prove he’s not only the best 140-pound fighter in the world but that he is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world,” he said.

Said Brian McIntyre, Crawford’s trainer and co-manager: “We are going to show the world how basic Postol really is and that he got very lucky against (Lucas) Matthysse.”

“I have asked for this fight for some time,” Postol said. “I am very confident, and this will be a great fight for me. I want to thank my promoters, Elite Boxing and Top Rank, for making this fight a reality for the fans.”

Vadim Kornilov, Postol’s manager, said he believes the fight is about as even a matchup as one could ask for.

“This fight is pay-per-view view material because no one knows what to expect,” Kornilov said. “Both guys are 28-0. Either one of these guys can win and go on to become the next star in the division. It’s the type of fight fans don’t get to see often these days.”

In one undercard bout, newly minted WBO Super Middleweight champion, Gilberto Ramirez will take on Dominick Britsch.