Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos: Tips & Predictions

Having overcome Chris Billam-Smith in November, Gilberto Ramirez attempts a first defence of the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles, taking on former IBF titleholder Yuniel Dorticos at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

A former super-middleweight world champion, the towering Mexican stepped up to light-heavyweight in 2020 but was unsuccessful when challenging for Dmitry Bivol’s WBA belt two years later.

That defeat prompted Ramirez (1/14) to move up to 200lbs and ‘Zurdo’ has impressed since, dethroning both Arsen Goulamirian and Billam-Smith to become a unified champion in just three fights at the weight.

Meanwhile, hard-hitting Dorticos (15/2) is appropriately nicknamed as ‘The KO Doctor’, with 25 of his 27 wins coming inside the distance, but at 39-years-old there are understandable doubts as to whether the Cuban can continue to compete at the top level.

They say that power is the last thing to leave a fighter and Dorticos will be heavily reliant on that saying ringing true on Saturday night.

Boxing News' Tips

Gilberto Ramirez to win by KO, TKO or DQ	5/6
Gilberto Ramirez to win in rounds 5-8	3/1

Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos Top Tips

Ramirez is yet to score a stoppage win since moving up to cruiserweight but strung together five knockout wins prior to losing out to Bivol at light-heavyweight.

Against Billam-Smith, Ramirez could have broken that duck if not for the grit, endurance and guts of the Briton, having landed a plethora of concussive blows that could have proved conclusive against a man of lesser heart.

However, in Dorticos, Ramirez is tasked with an ageing opponent who has completed just five rounds since 2020. Although this lack of action has come via Dorticos’ own doing in a run of three early knockout wins, it is far from ideal preparation for a fight against a champion who is capable of fighting evasively.

As a result, Boxing News anticipates that Dorticos’ only chance in the fight will come from an attempted early onslaught and that the 200lb veteran will likely only be dangerous in the opening few rounds.

From then onwards, the relentless Ramirez should be completely dominant and should be expected to get Dorticos out of there and bank a first knockout win as a cruiserweight.

Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos Tale of the Tape

	Gilberto Ramirez	Yuniel Dorticos
Record:	47-1 (30 KOs)	27-2 (25 KOs)
Age:	33	39
Birthplace:	Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico	Havana, Cuba
Height:	6'2" / 189 cm	6'3" / 191 cm
Reach:	75" / 190 cm	80" / 203 cm
Stance:	Southpaw	Orthodox
Titles:	WBA & WBO cruiserweight titles	N/A
Last fight:	W (UD) v Chris Billam-Smith - Nov 24	W (KO) v Alan Campa - June 24
KO%:	63.93%	92.59%
Alias:	'Zurdo'	'The KO Doctor'

Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos Prediction

Gilberto Ramirez to win by KO, TKO or DQ @ 5/6

We expect that Dorticos will search for a showstopping shot in the early stages and then soon begin to tire and realise that his chances of the upset are diminishing.

As his age and inactivity begins to show, Ramirez will up the tempo and take the fight to the vulnerable challenger, overwhelming Dorticos with his superior output and combination punching.

By the fifth-round, we anticipate one-sided action, and an eventual stoppage win for the champion to tee up either a three-belt unification bout against Jai Opetaia or a lucrative meeting with Jake Paul, who appears in the main-event.