FIGHT WEEK

Gilberto Ramirez, who failed in his bid to dethrone 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol in November, will face veteran Gabriel Rosado in his comeback fight Saturday in Long Beach, California.

GILBERTO RAMIREZ (44-1, 30 KOS) VS. GABRIEL ROSADO (26-16-1, 15 KOS)

• When: Saturday, March 18

• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)

• Where: Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, California

• TV/Stream: DAZN

• Division: Light heavyweight (175 pounds)

• At stake: No major titles

• Pound-for-pound ranking: None

• Odds: Ramirez 17-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)

• Also on the card: Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Mercito Gesta, lightweights; Oscar Duarte Jurado vs. Alex Martin, lightweights

• Prediction: Ramirez KO 8

• Background: Ramirez tasted defeat for the first time in his career in November, losing a wide decision to 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol. Now comes the first step in the rebuilding process. Of course, the former 168-pound titleholder from Mexico has nothing to be ashamed of: Bivol knocked off the great Canelo Alvarez by decision in his previous fight, after all. At the same time, the former 168-pound titleholder’s limitations seemed to be exposed. Rosado, who will be making his debut at 175, probably won’t present that kind of challenge for Ramirez. The durable, but limited 37-year-old from Philadelphia is defying logic by continuing to get meaningful fights more for his fighting spirit and recognizable name than his accomplishments. He has become a classic “opponent,” a boxer hired to fight hard but lose. He has lost his last three fights, including a shutout decision against Ali Akhmedov in September. He did pump life into his career when he stopped hot prospect Bektemir Melikuziev in three rounds at 168 in 2021.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

• Jean Pascal vs. Michael Eifert, light heavyweights, Laval, Quebec (ESPN+)

• Callum Walsh vs. Leonardo Di Stefano Ruiz, junior middleweights, Boston (UFC Fight Pass)

SATURDAY

• Cyrus Pattinson vs. Chris Jenkins, welterweights, Newcastle, England (DAZN)

Related

Photos: Dmitry Bivol defeats Gilberto Ramirez by wide unanimous decision

Story originally appeared on Boxing Junkie