LAS VEGAS — It might not be long before Golden Boy fighter Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez competes at heavyweight.
"Maybe in a few years," Ramirez told ProBox TV ahead of his Saturday fight against Joe Smith Jr. at The Chelsea theater inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
It would continue a remarkable rise through the weight classes for 'Zurdo' as the 32-year-old began his career at middleweight, won a world championship at super middleweight, fought briefly at light heavyweight, before taking Smith on at a catchweight within the cruiserweight limit.
"I can maybe fight at heavyweight," the 6-foot-3 Ramirez told us.
Competing in the right weight class has perhaps been an issue for Ramirez when one thinks of how brief his spell at 175-pounds was, fighting there for a mere two-year spell after more than five years at 168.
The catchweight bout against Smith, who is also a light heavyweight boxer moving up a division, is perhaps to gauge how well Zurdo's southpaw power will travel.
Considering Ramirez's nationality, Mexico could have two fighters in the division at the same time yet Zurdo did not expect a fight against Andy Ruiz Jr. any time soon.
"I'm not thinking beyond [Smith]," he said, adding that he's feeling healthier and stronger at the weight he is right now.
On Smith, Ramirez promised an "exciting fight for all the fans because two more champions in the ring is always [something special]."
Zurdo-Smith top a seven-bout Golden Boy card. DAZN airs the final four fights, which also includes a co-main event between Bektemir Melizukiev and Alantez Fox in a 10-round super middleweight fight.
