Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez was simply too good for Chris Billam-Smith on Saturday night.
The WBA champion Brit travelled to Riyadh to take on the WBO champion Mexican in a cruiserweight world title unification fight but was comfortably beaten by unanimous decision.
The fight began with an excellent opener for Billam-Smith.
The Brit went on the front foot in round one and landed a number of clean shots which clearly surprised the Mexican.
In the second, Ramirez responded well and began to land hooks with consistency himself.
Billam-Smith attempted to increase his offensive output in round three but was tagged by Zurdo’s southpaw left hand on multiple occasions.
The WBO champion’s crisp counters troubled the WBA champion, with the Brit staggered by a hook he didn’t see coming and cut from a headbutt towards the end of the fourth.
CBS battled back valiantly in round five, though seemed simply overmatched.
As they hit the halfway point, the Mexican was clearly in control as he was simply the more consistently accurate of the pair.
Billam-Smith’s face looked busted up and his eye injury was checked over by the doctor due to the continued bleeding and swelling at the start of the seventh.
The fight was allowed to go on.
Unfortunately for him though, the pattern continued though rounds eight and nine with the Brit bravely marching forward despite being outpunched, outboxed and outlanded.
In the championship rounds, Ramirez sealed the deal.
Billam-Smith’s corner urged him to pull a rabbit out of the hat in the final three minutes, but no such fluffy creature emerged.
The Mexican cruised to victory and celebrated as soon as the final bell rang.
After a short wait, he was confirmed as the victor by unanimous decision.
The three judges scored the fight 116-112, 116-112, 116-113 in his favour.
“I feel great, I’m proud of what I did,” Zurdo said post-fight.
“I prepare for tough guys, he’s a tough fighter, he was a champion.
“It’s an honour for me to fight him and get the belt.”
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