Chris Billam-Smith will look to add the WBA cruiserweight title to his collection when he takes on Gilberto Ramirez next weekend.
‘The Gentleman’ is set to put his WBO belt on the line for the third time after seeing off Mateusz Masternak and Richard Riakporhe.
Billam-Smith boasts a 20-1-0 record, with 13 knockouts, and he’s won his last 11 fights.
Meanwhile, his opponent Ramirez is a two-division world champion and has a very long career behind him.
The 33-year-old has won 46 of his 47 fights, so this will be a tough test for Billam-Smith.
Billam-Smith vs Ramirez: Date and how to follow
This world title clash is set to take place on Saturday, November 16.
It is set to be held at The Venue, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The main card is scheduled to get going at 5pm UK time, with the main event ringwalk start time to be confirmed in due course.
It is set to be shown on DAZN for no additional cost.
This means people in the UK can watch this fight for the standard subscription cost.
There is an annual subscription available for an £89.99 lump sum, and a monthly subscription for £16.66. More details here.
talkSPORT will have all the build-up in fight week, and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Billam-Smith vs Ramirez: Undercard
Subject to change
- MAIN EVENT: Gilberto Ramirez vs. Chris Billam-Smith; For the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles
- Jose Carlos Ramirez vs. Arnold Barbosa Jr.
- Oscar Collazo vs. Thammanoon Niyomtrong
- Wiliam Zepeda Segura vs. Tevin Farmer
- Oscar Duarte Jurado vs. Botirzhon Akhmedov
Billam-Smith vs Ramirez: What has been said?
Billam-Smith is hoping to become the first Brit since David Haye to unify the cruiserweight division.
Speaking about that opportunity, he said: “It’s a fight I’m really excited for and a big opportunity for me.
“I’m just glad it’s a unification fight. The last Brit to unify at cruiserweight was David Haye, who is someone I looked up to massively in terms of fighting style and how he dismantled his opponents.
“It would be an honour to be a British unified world champion.”
However, he is wary of his opponent, adding: “Zurdo is a southpaw and that brings its own problems.
“I’m confident in fighting him but I’m not that experienced in fighting southpaws. He brings lots of different attributes, he’s super-tough and has a really good punch output.
“I’d say I have more of an advantage being settled at the weight, but he has his advantages too as he’ll be used to faster guys as he’s come up through the weights.
“It makes for a really intriguing fight and it’s a massive challenge for me. [Trainer] Shane [McGuigan] and I are already working on a gameplan. People saw a different side of me in my last fight but this time there will be even more surprise in what people see.”
