Gilberto Ramirez said he has “no excuses” after missing weight by 7.6 pounds for his now-cancelled 175-pound fight with Gabriel Rosado on tonight (Saturday) in Long Beach, California.
He’ll have a lot of idle time to think about what he did.
Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, said Ramirez will be suspended for at least six months. That means he’ll miss one fight, which Rosado was forced to do, assuming another commission doesn’t ignore California’s ruling.
Ramirez was due to make $400,000, Rosado $175,000.
“I’m suspending Ramirez,” Foster told Fight Freaks. “He’s getting suspended and fined, probably fined at least 5 grand. He blew the whole event up, so I’ll probably suspend him in the neighborhood of six months. It might be eight months.
“The suspension has to be long enough to cost him one fight because he cost Gabriel Rosado a fight and a training camp.”
Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) said he was embarrassed.
“No excuses,” he said in a formal statement. “I had never missed weight in my 45 pro fights. This is the first and last time. I have always prided myself on being a professional, but today was not my finest moment.
“On that note, l’d like to apologize to all my fans and supporters, Golden Boy Promotions, and DAZN for this unfortunate event. I never gave up trying to make weight, cutting until the final moment, but just couldn’t lose enough to make the contracted weight.
“I am embarrassed and upset by my actions and promise that this will never happen again. I will make the right adjustments and will be back soon.”
A source “close to the Ramirez camp” told Fight Freaks: “His body shut down. He worked all (Thursday) night and (Friday) morning. Tried everything.”
The fight between 140-pounders Joseph Diaz Jr. and Mercito Gesta was elevated to main event tonight (DAZN).
[lawrence-related id=36205]