Riyadh Season and Golden Boy Promotions, one of many main boxing promotional firms owned by six-division, 10-time World Champion and Corridor of Famer Oscar De La Hoya, introduced at present an inaugural present that’s a part of their total partnership.
The occasion, “Latino Night time,” will happen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 16 with the primary occasion co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and BOXXER.
Scheduled to be one of many largest celebrations of Latino boxing expertise, “Latino Night time” will see the history-making WBA Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) of Mazatlán, Mexico in scorching pursuit of changing into undisputed within the division. His first step will likely be difficult WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Chris Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) of Bournemouth, United Kingdom who’s coming off the heels of three straight title defenses. The primary occasion is offered by Golden Boy in co-promotion with BOXXER.
Ramirez left his mark within the sport as the primary Mexican to turn into an excellent middleweight and cruiserweight world champion and will likely be trying to take over the cruiserweight division. Billam-Smith is an English skilled boxer who has held the World Boxing Group cruiserweight title since 2023 and has held the European, British, and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles between 2019 and 2022.
The cardboard will characteristic Golden Boy’s world championship title holders and contenders who’re on the cusp of tasting world championship glory. Within the co-main occasion, former U.S. Olympian and Unified Champion Jose Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) of Fresno, California will face the damaging undefeated title contender and at the moment No.1 WBO-ranked Arnold Barboza Jr. (30-0, 11 KOs) of Los Angeles, California in a 12-round WBO Tremendous Light-weight World Title Eliminator Combat.
Additionally on the cardboard, the unstoppable knockout machine, William “El Camarón” Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) of San Mateo Atenco, Mexico will problem former American IBF World Champion Tevin “2X” Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a 10-round light-weight battle. In affiliation with Miguel Cotto Promotions and defending his WBO Minimumweight World Championship for the fourth time, the history-making Puerto Rican Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (10-0, 7 KOs) of Villalba, Puerto Rico will measure up in opposition to Queretaro, Mexico’s Edwin “Canito” Hernandez (13-2-1, 4 KOs) in a 12-round world title bout. Opening the historic present with a 12-round WBA Tremendous Light-weight Eliminator battle, Chihuahua, Mexico’s Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) will face No.1 WBA-ranked Kenneth “Bossman” Sims Jr. (21-2-1, 8 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Normal Leisure Authority, mentioned: “We’re wanting ahead to staging our first occasion as a part of our partnership with Golden Boy Promotions with Latino Night time. This card options a number of the finest Latino fighters round and continues our drive to ship top-tier boxing occasions by giving followers all through the world the fights they need to see.”
Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, mentioned: “His excellency and I’ve the very same imaginative and prescient — to match the perfect versus the perfect for the followers of our sport. From a world championship unification battle, to battles between former champions and on-the-rise contenders to a stacked undercard of prospects, this present will characteristic every thing nice that boxing has to supply.”
Ben Shalom, Founder and CEO of BOXXER, mentioned: “Riyadh Season continues to ship the perfect matches on the prime of the game, and we’re delighted to be working with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to current one other epic battle as co-promoters of this large cruiserweight world title unification battle. Gilberto Ramirez is a good champion however Chris Billam-Smith will likely be coming filled with confidence and able to unify the division.”
Philip Button, Chief Enterprise Officer at Golden Boy Promotions, mentioned: “We’re excited to companion with Riyadh Season to advertise Latino Night time and additional broaden Golden Boy’s enterprise globally.”
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, WBA Cruiserweight World Champion, mentioned: “I’m excited to make this battle occur with Chris Billam-Smith. It’s been a very long time coming, and I’m wanting ahead to changing into the unified champion on this division. I’ve at all times mentioned this was my division (Cruiserweight), and I’m comfortable for the chance to showcase my expertise at this stage on a worldwide stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s actually an honor to be a Mexican warrior and to showcase what true Mexican boxing is all about whereas bringing my tradition to a worldwide viewers. Moreover, I hope to be the bridge between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, making each side proud. I wish to give a particular because of my workforce, 3 Level Administration, Golden Boy Promotions, Riyadh Season, the WBA, WBO, and everybody else concerned in making this occur.”
HE Turki Alalshikh has additionally confirmed that Latino Night time will likely be broadcast without cost globally. Additional particulars of the place you may watch this card will comply with.
