Undefeated WBO Super-Middleweight world champion Gilberto Ramirez successfully defended his world championship for the third time by scoring an impressive sixth round stoppage over previously undefeated WBO number four rated WBO Super-Middleweight contender Habib Ahmed on Saturday night at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, TX. Ramirez, who came into the bout off of a twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten top contender Jesse Hart in September of last year, systematically imposed his will on a very “Game”, but ultimately over matched Ahmed.
Ramirez consistently forced Ahmed backward and implemented an attack to the challenger’s body and head. Despite being put under pressure from the outset, Ahmed was willing to engage with Ramirez in what was an entertaining bout to watch. Ramirez’ consistent pressure, attack, and naturally bigger size, however, was the story of the fight.
Although he suffered a cut over his left eye in the third round as a result of an accidental clash of heads, Ramirez was not visibly bothered by the cut and by the late stages of round six Ahmed’s corner signaled to Referee Laurence Cole that they had seen enough prompting Cole to stop the fight.
Official time of the stoppage was 2:31 of round six. Gilberto Ramirez advances to 37-0, with 25 Knockouts. Habib Ahmed falls to 22-1, with 17 Knockouts.
It will be interesting to see who Ramirez fights next. One possible option would be for the champion to face current WBO number one rated contender Jesse Hart in a rematch. It is also possible that Ramirez, who expressed his wanting to unify the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division following his victory over Ahmed, will wait for the conclusion of the ongoing World Boxing Super Series Super-Middleweight tournament, which features a unification bout between WBA Super-Middleweight world champion George Groves and IBO Super-Middleweight world champion Chris Eubank Jr., which will take place on February 17th in Manchester, England.
Now unbeaten in thirty-seven professional fights, Gilberto Ramirez has continued to make the best argument he can as he seeks now seeks to further unify the Super-Middleweight division and establish himself as the division’s number one fighter. Whether or not Ramirez will be the opponent of choice for the winner of the Super-Middleweight portion of the World Boxing Super Series tournament is a question that will be answered in time. In this observer’s view after three successful title defenses and scoring an impressive stoppage in this fight against Habib Ahmed, Ramirez’ first knockout win in nearly four years, unless the World Boxing Organization (WBO) mandates Ramirez to fight either Jesse Hart, who scored a first round knockout over Thomas Awimbono in a Light-Heavyweight bout on the undercard of Ramirez-Ahmed, or another top contender Gilberto Ramirez has earned the opportunity to attempt to unify his crown against one of the division’s other world champions. We will have to simply wait and see what options may be available to Ramirez coming out of this fight.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
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