RIYADH – With just a few days left till Riyadh Season’s Latino Evening offered by Golden Boy Promotions, a remaining press convention was hosted right now to advertise the inaugural November 16 present. WBA Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) of Mazatlán, Mexico, will sq. off towards WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Chris Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) of Bournemouth, United Kingdom, in a historic try to develop into the primary Mexican-born fighter to unify the cruiserweight division. The world championship unification struggle would be the first Riyadh Season occasion made out there for struggle followers to get pleasure from without spending a dime worldwide. DAZN will broadcast this blockbuster struggle evening without spending a dime globally, with plenty of native broadcasters transmitting the occasion.
Additionally in motion, former U.S. Olympian and Unified Champion Jose Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) of Avenal, Calif., will face undefeated title contender and present No.1 WBO-ranked Arnold Barboza Jr. (30-0, 11 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif., in a 10-round tremendous light-weight bout. Additionally on the cardboard, the unstoppable knockout machine, William “El Camarón” Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) of San Mateo, Mexico, will problem former American IBF World Champion Tevin “2X” Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pa., in a 10-round light-weight struggle for the interim WBC title.
The free DAZN present additionally contains a particular world championship unification struggle for the WBO and WBA Minimumweight World Titles and the vacant Ring Journal belt, as history-making Puerto Rican WBO Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (10-0, 7 KOs) takes on the longest-reigning WBA Minimumweight Champion Thammanoon “Knockout CP Freshmart” Niyomtrong (25-0, 9 KOs). This main minimumweight world championship struggle has been slated for 12 rounds of motion.
Plus, Parral, Mexico’s Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) will battle Botirzhon Akhmedov (10-3-0) of Russia in a 10-round tremendous light-weight struggle. Ziyad Almaayouf (6-0, 1 KO) of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will face off towards Juan Garcia (5-6) of Mexico Metropolis within the six-round welterweight opening bout.
That is what the fighters and promoter needed to say right now at their remaining press convention:
GILBERTO “ZURDO” RAMÍREZ
“I’m comfortable to be right here! I’m actually excited for Saturday evening. My workforce has ready nicely for this struggle. I believe I’ll characterize ‘Noche Latina’ very nicely. ¡Viva México! Watch me characterize Mexico on Saturday. I’m prepared for no matter he [Billam-Smith] brings to the desk.”
“I’m consuming higher and I’m not killing myself [to make weight] on this division. I’m prepared, I’m comfortable, I really feel grateful to be right here for this massive alternative and I’m able to take it for myself and for Mexico.”
“I’ll present everybody that I’m prepared for this division. I’m going to show to myself and to everybody else on Saturday evening that I’m able to take the belt.”
“I must throw numerous punches. That’s it. I must win each spherical [to beat Billam-Smith].”
CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH
“It’s an honor to be right here on this stage, these are the fights and exhibits which are taking up the worldwide viewers. It’s wonderful to be headlining this evening, and whereas this evening is meant to be Zurdo’s, sadly I’m right here to spoil the get together once more and I’ll be doing that Saturday evening.”
“I do know the extent I’m at. There’s no offense taken [at being referred to as the underdog]. It provides me much more drive and he’ll be consuming humble pie on Saturday evening.”
“I need to struggle the opposite champions, and we’ve tried to get within the ring and we weren’t in a position to do it. Clearly, Zurdo did, and I’ve adopted Zurdo’s profession for a few years. He’s had a implausible profession and I do know he’s a fighter’s fighter, who will take up any alternative and tackle any problem. You need these fighters in your division while you’re a champion and searching for these different belts. I used to be actually comfortable he gained that struggle and that we will get it on.”
“Sure, for certain [on his size and experience at the weight class being an advantage] but it surely’s what you do with the dimensions. It’s no good to be massive and powerful, it’s about pace, talent, energy, and the punch output that goes with that. That’s what I’m in a position to do and that’s why folks can’t dwell with me on this division.”
JOSE RAMIREZ
“It’s an honor to see the nation of Saudi Arabia discover a lot curiosity in Mexican tradition. I’m prepared for Saturday evening. I’ve skilled exhausting. I’ve wonderful coaches in my nook. I really feel prepared for Saturday. It’s going to be an amazing struggle. I’m going to go on the market and do my greatest to indicate those who I’m the most effective 140 pounder on this planet.”
ARNOLD BARBOZA JR.
“I’m very excited, we’ve skilled actual exhausting for this struggle. That is my title shot. This struggle has been vital to me for a very long time. We’re able to go on the market and have an all Mexican battle within the ring.”
“We’ll do what we’ve got to do to make an announcement. Shout out to Jose Ramirez for taking this struggle, I stay up for preventing him on Saturday.”
WILLIAM ZEPEDA
“I’m feeling extremely motivated for this struggle. My preparation has been intense and targeted, and I’ve left no stone unturned to get myself in the most effective form doable. I do know my opponent is not any stroll within the park – he’s robust and skilled, and I respect that. However we’ve crafted a robust, good technique for Saturday, and I’m able to execute it.”
“Saturday evening is shaping as much as be a implausible occasion. We now have an incredible card filled with proficient, skilled fighters, every bringing one thing particular to the ring. I’m wanting ahead to placing on a present and delivering an unforgettable efficiency. My aim is to supply the folks of Saudi Arabia an evening of boxing they’ll bear in mind, with all the eagerness, talent, and pleasure this sport has to supply.”
TEVIN FARMER
“Saturday evening goes to be a present that no one will need to miss. They are saying that William Zepeda is the most effective within the 135 pound division, which I agree, however you’ll be able to’t be a prime canine except you beat the highest canine. Saturday evening he’ll have his fingers full with Tevin Farmer.”
“I’ve been on social media and I’ve seen Golden Boy and Eddie Hearn selling this 5v5 with Zepeda vs Shakur, however I really feel like that’s loopy when [Zepeda] has a man like Tevin Former in entrance of him. You by no means put the cart earlier than the horse, and I believe it’s a foul transfer as a result of as soon as I beat [Zepeda] Saturday evening I don’t know who they’re going to have for Shakur. November 16, tune in. Your boy Tevin Farmer is again. I’m going to indicate you all how the USA does it.”
OSCAR COLLAZO
“I’m prepared for Saturday. I’ve been ready for a problem like this since I began my profession. I welcome each problem that’s put in entrance of me, however this one particularly, as a result of it’s historic.”
“Since 1999, the folks of Puerto Rico haven’t had a champion like this. The final one was Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad. I need to make historical past. I need to get this for my folks, for my household, to make Puerto Rico proud.”
“I really feel honored to be representing my land of Puerto Rico in Noche Latina. I’m going to make them proud. It’ll be a memorable evening.”
OSCAR DUARTE
“Batyr [Akhmedov] is a good fighter, I’m not going to take that away from him. I respect him. However I’m additionally an excellent fighter and I had an amazing camp in California. I’m going to get the win on Saturday evening. I’m going to go away my coronary heart within the ring.”
“I’m proud to be representing Mexico on this wonderful show of Latino boxing. I’m preventing for my folks on Saturday evening.”
BATYR AKHMEDOV
“I’ve a really robust opponent and I consider it ought to be an excellent struggle. I anticipate this struggle would be the struggle of the evening and I need to invite my Muslim brothers to come back to this struggle and assist me.”
ZIYAD ALMAAYOUF
“I’ve chosen this profession to empower, to inspire, to encourage younger dreamers. After all the pieces that I’ve gone by means of and been by means of, I do all of it for them. On Saturday evening you will note one thing magical. I anticipate it to be robust, however this path has all the time been robust. It’s been exhausting, however the more durable the trail, the upper the calling. In the future I might be Saudi Arabia’s first world champion. God keen, I’ll make this occur.”
JUAN GARCIA
“I hope to placed on an amazing present for the followers right here in Saudi Arabia. I’ve opponent in entrance of me. I’ve ready nicely and I’m not going to make it simpler for him. He higher be prepared.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
“We strongly really feel that these fighters you see right here Saturday evening will struggle with numerous ardour, using the latino fashion of boxing. The Mexican fashion of boxing. There’s one thing about this card that may convey out the most effective in each single fighter out right here. When Golden Boy Promotions put this card collectively, we had been serious about ensuring each single struggle is a major occasion fashion struggle, evenly matched, robust fights for each side. We don’t know who’s going to win, solely they know. One factor we all know is they may struggle with numerous ardour, and that’s what this card is all about. That Latino taste. If it wasn’t for His Excellency, this card wouldn’t be doable. He’s facilitating for the entire world to look at without spending a dime.”
BEN SHALOM
“Wow, this feels so surreal. Once I met Chris Billam-Smith, the dream was to get out of Bournemouth; let’s get on our approach to a world title. And, wow, the journey has solely gotten higher and higher and higher. I need to thank Riyadh Season, it’s nice to be again within the Kingdom the place boxing dream are made now.”
“Golden Boy have placed on an unbelievable card. However for me, that is the most effective boxing card followers can have entry to without spending a dime. It exhibits an enormous dedication to the game.”
“What makes me snigger is all this speak from the U.S. media – we’ve got had it our complete profession – that one way or the other Billam-Smith is the underdog and it’s one way or the other a mismatch. Chris Billam-Smith has been an underdog his complete life and each time he’s put down, each time he comes by means of. There’s going to be lots of people embarrassed on Sunday morning, I can promise you.”
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and in addition a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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