Among the many moves being made by Golden Boy Promotions is mapping out the 2026 campaign for Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
Oscar De La Hoya provided an update about the unified WBA/WBO cruiserweight titlist, who was limited to just one fight in 2025. Mexico’s Ramirez, 48-1 (30 KOs), underwent shoulder surgery shortly after his points win over Yuniel Dorticos in June, and has spent the past several months recovering but is keen to resume his career.
The good news is that the 34-year-old southpaw has been cleared for full training and is geared for a ring return in the first quarter of the new year.
“I want to see him back healthy, first and foremost,” De La Hoya, chairman of Golden Boy, told DAZN. “I want to see him back in the ring January or February.”
Ramirez recently re-signed with Golden Boy Promotions, extending a working relationship that was formed in early 2021.
They have worked together for each of his past eight fights. Ramirez suffered his lone loss during that stretch via unanimous decision to the then-unbeaten Dmitry Bivol for the WBA 175lbs title in November 2022. The result was a disappointment for Ramirez, though he remained appreciative of Golden Boy’s persistence in forcing all involved parties to push forward with the fight.
While light heavyweight proved an unsuccessful stop in Ramirez’s bid to become a two-division titlist, he hit paydirt at cruiserweight. He is 4-0 in the 200lbs division, in which he has recorded title winning efforts over Arsen Goulamirian, for the WBA’s title, and Chris Billam-Smith, for the WBO’s, during his brilliant 2024.
His lone fight of 2025 involved him satisfying his WBA mandatory with the win over Dorticos. Ramirez is not yet bound by the WBO, who approved a request for Germany’s Roman Fress to pursue an interim title fight with countryman Tahir Kahrovic.
A tune-up level bout is expected for Ramirez’s first fight back, after which the industry expectation will be of an attractive showdown with lineal and IBF champ Jai Opetaia.
Ever the gamesman, De La Hoya – a hall of fame former six-division titlist – wishes to keep options open for his cruiserweight charge.
“There are a lot of big names,” insisted De La Hoya, when pressed on the possibility of Opetaia-Ramirez. “Who knows, maybe Zurdo versus David Benavidez, live on DAZN.”
