Gilberto Ramirez has Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his sights.
No, the light heavyweight contender has no designs on fighting the much smaller Hall of Famer. It’s Mayweather’s final record – 50-0 – that he has an eye on. Ramirez is 41-0, which means he could catch Mayweather in three or four years if he stays active.
“That’s only 10 fights. I want to make history,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez has been anything but active the past few years, in part because of promotional issues. The 29-year-old Mexican has fought only once since December 2018, a 10th-round knockout of Alfonso Lopez in December.
That’s one reason he signed a three-fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions, which he believes can get him the fights he wants. And he wants to face the best, he said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLSK9zOETeM
Ramirez doesn’t plan to defeat a parade of pushovers in an effort to remain undefeated. His goal is to fight the most-feared 175-pounders immediately, including titleholders Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
He’s particularly interested in a fight with Bivol, who he believes is the most skillful light heavyweight.
Ramirez said he’d like to fight again in June, a time frame that probably means he would have to face a second-tier opponent. However, after that, he wants to fight for a major belt.
“I first want to be a pound-for-pound fighter,” the former 168-pound titleholder. “And I want to be a champion again. I think Golden Boy can help get me on that path. … I want to fight for a title right away. That’s what I want.
“Sometimes promoters make things too complicated. We as fighters want to fight the best.”
Another prospective opponent for Ramirez: countryman Canelo Alvarez.
The pound-for-pounder reportedly has said he’s not comfortable with the idea of fighting fellow Mexicans going forward but Ramirez doesn’t buy that line of thinking.
“We as fighters don’t have to feel comfortable fighting someone,” he said. “If you feel that way, then why did you choose this career? I want to fight anyone. That’s what I do.”
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