Denis Lebedev-Victor Ramirez Unification in Play, Says Ryabinsky

By Vadim Pushkin

There are ongoing negotiations to make a cruiserweight unification between WBA champion Denis Lebedev (28-2, 21KOs) of Russia and IBF champion Victor Ramirez (22-2-1, 17KOs) of Argentina.

Lebedev had a big year in 2015 and now won three in a row since getting knocked out by Guillermo Jones in eleven rounds in May of 2013. Jones tested positive for a banned weight cutting agent in the aftermath, but the official result of the contest was never officially changed. Jones was eventually stripped of  the belt, which the sanctioning body returned to Lebedev.

He won a twelve round unanimous decision in April over mandatory challenger Youri Kalenga. He then came back in November, and stopped undefeated Nigerian fighter Lateef Kayode in eight rounds.

Ramirez became the world champion after beltholder Yoan Pablo Hernandez was stripped for a very long stint of inactivity. Ramirez captured the interim-IBF world championship when he defeated Ola Afolabi last May, and then he came back in October to win a twelve round split draw with Ovill McKenzie of the UK.

"There were discussions with Ramirez. We have an interest in a fight with him," said Lebdev's promoter Andrei Ryabinsky of World of Boxing. "But I can not give any details just yet, because we have not yet reached an agreement. There are negotiations taking place. I want to Denis to get a second title."