Chris Billam-Smith’s world cruiserweight title unification fight with Gilberto Ramirez this Saturday is live on Sky Sports.
Britain’s Billam-Smith, the WBO champion, takes on WBA titlist Ramirez in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a hugely significant fight for the weight division, with live coverage from 5pm on Sky Sports Mix.
“Zurdo” Ramirez is a formidable opponent. He was the first Mexican to become a super-middleweight and cruiserweight world champion and is looking to take over the 200lb division.
He has only lost once in his career, to great light-heavyweight Dmitry Bivol.
But Billam-Smith is in a rich vein of form himself. Most recently he avenged his only previous loss in a successful world title defence against Richard Riakporhe.
That was Billam-Smith’s third consecutive victory in a world championship contest.
“It’s an exciting unification fight against someone who has only been beaten by Bivol,” Billam-Smith said.
“It’s a very hard test and it would be an honour for me to become unified champion.”
Ramirez said: “I’m excited to make this fight happen with Chris Billam-Smith. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m looking forward to becoming the unified champion in this division.
“I’ve always said this was my division and I’m happy for the opportunity to showcase my skills at this level on a global stage in Riyadh.
“It’s truly an honour to be a Mexican warrior and to showcase what true Mexican boxing is all about while bringing my culture to a global audience.”
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TVstreaming service NOW and the Sky Sports appgiving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
