Arthur Abraham Believes Ramirez Fight Happens in March

By Yuri Tarantin

According to WBO world middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (44-4, 29KOs), he expects his mandatory fight with Mexico's Gilberto Ramirez (33-0, 24KOs) to be held on a date in March.

"In March, I will fight with Ramirez. This is a very strong fighter and in his career he's not suffered a single defeat and leads the rating list my weight class," Abraham stated.

The champion turns 36-years-old in February and says he intends to continue fighting for at least two more years.

"Until the end of the contract [with Sauerland Event], which will expire after 2 years, I will box until then. After that, I will hang up the gloves on a nail and I will enjoy real life," Abraham said.

Things will get interesting as the days are being counted down, because the purse bid is scheduled to take place on Friday. Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Ramirez, wants to hold the showdown on April 9 as part of the HBO Pay-Per-View undercard to the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley trilogy at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Abraham makes a lot of money in Germany and he is a big ratings draw for television in the country, so it's going to take some sizable dollars to bring him across the ocean.

Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru