By Steve Kim
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Top Rank announced that WBO Super middleweight champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez (34-0) suffered a hand injury in training and was forced to withdraw from his scheduled defense against Germany's Dominik Britsch (32-2-1) - which was set to take place on the undercard of Terence Crawford versus Viktor Postol at MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas July 23, 2016.
"'Zurdo' was in the gym, Hill St. Boxing, getting in some good rounds under his belt and he threw right hand, came over the top and hit the guy on the back part of the head and it blew up the center knuckle. The tendon just tore and he went to see Dr. Shin yesterday who's at the world-renown Frank Jobe Clinic and they recommended he go in for surgery on Friday to repair the damage," explained Sean Gibbons, who advises the 25-year old Mexican.
As for when he might return to the ring, Gibbons admitted,"I'd be guessing but it could be about 90 days, three months. Basically they'll have the surgery, it'll be in a cast and then depending on how long the rehab takes, but somewhere in that time frame."
Top Rank has big plans for Ramirez, who won the title on April 9th by blanking Arthur Abraham. Bob Arum spoke openly about matching him up next year with Gennady Golovkin. It's not clear if he'll fight again in 2016.
"We would hope that would happen but we don't want to look past anything till they do the surgery and let the doctor decide all that stuff,'"said Gibbons.
"But he's young enough, 25, I think he'll rebound quickly and by the end of the year he's got a chance to be back in the ring."
Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate and the motion picture "Hands of Stone," the Terence Crawford - Viktor Postol world championship pay-per-view event will take place on Saturday, July 23, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. The Ramirez vs. Britsch world championship bout will be co-promoted by Zapari Boxing Promotions.
Remaining tickets to Crawford vs. Postol are priced at $304, $204, $104, and $54, not including applicable service fees.
