Ramirez Unifies Cruiserweight Titles Against Billam-Smith
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith met in a cruiserweight unification bout on November 16, 2024, in Riyadh. Ramirez won by unanimous decision, retaining his WBA title and taking Billam-Smith’s WBO belt.
Ramirez takes the decision
The judges scored the 12-round fight 116-112, 116-112 and 116-113 for Ramirez. The result made him the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion and the first Mexican boxer to unify world titles at cruiserweight, according to Golden Boy Promotions and the World Boxing Association.
What the fight settled
Billam-Smith’s WBO reign ended, while Ramirez kept his WBA title. Ramirez later defended the unified belts against Yuniel Dorticos in June 2025.
Sources: Golden Boy Promotions: official result and scorecards; World Boxing Association report; BBC Sport report.
Billam-Smith began positively, using his jab and size to push Ramirez backward in the opening round. Ramirez adjusted quickly, finding room for his left hand from the second round. His speed and accuracy then became increasingly important as Billam-Smith attempted to close distance and turn the contest into a more physical exchange.
The fight remained demanding through the later rounds. Billam-Smith continued to press and found opportunities with hooks, but Ramirez’s combinations and movement helped him accumulate the clearer scoring work. The challenger for the WBA belt stayed on his feet through all twelve rounds, making Ramirez complete the championship distance to secure the unification.
Ramirez finished the night with a 47–1 record, while Billam-Smith moved to 20–2. Afterward, the Mexican expressed interest in pursuing further unification opportunities. Winning these two belts was an important step toward that ambition, but it left other cruiserweight championships to be contested in separate fights. The result therefore established a unified champion without settling the entire division.
Additional source: Boxing News’ ringside report.
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
