Photo: Vincent Ethier – In his last two fights, Albert Ramirez (20-0, 17 KOs) has outperformed Artur Beterbiev and Joshua Buatsi against the very credible Adam Deines and Marko Calic.
I use public transportation partly for the environment but mostly to save money and fill my TFSA, which will hopefully allow me to buy a property in Rosemont by 2065. A storm and a two-hour bus ride weren’t going to stop me from seeing Albert Ramirez up close.
The Venezuelan boxer is ranked #2 WBA, #3 WBC, #3 WBO, and #5 IBF. In boxing terms, that means something like: “Stay undefeated, and you’ll be fighting for a world championship sooner rather than later.” His opponent, Marko Calic, had only suffered one career loss, a seventh-round defeat to British fighter Joshua Buatsi. I love it when my friend and matchmaker Jordan Mathieu sets up fights where I can fully indulge in comparisons and the famous rule of three.
For three rounds, Ramirez stalked, battered, and demolished his Croatian opponent. This boxer has something special: he applies pressure methodically, keeps his hands high, but once he smells blood, he finishes the job.
A Sparring Story
EOTTM signed him as an international boxer in April 2023. It was during a stint as Artur Beterbiev’s sparring partner that he impressed Antonin Décarie.
Last week, the godfather of Quebec boxing recounted that Luc-Vincent Ouellet had told him King Artur destroyed Ramirez in sparring. He was there, I wasn’t, so I won’t argue, but logic suggests that if Marc Ramsay offered him a contract, Ramirez must have held his own better than most.
Even Luc-Vincent later admitted that Ramirez had improved significantly since then…
In any case, less than two years later, his record stands at 20-0, he’s well-ranked in all organizations, eighth on BoxRec, and he’ll soon receive a call for a big fight. He certainly doesn’t regret joining EOTTM.
Photo: Vincent Ethier
On the amateur scene, Ramirez defeated Cuban standout Erislandy Savon, and two years later, he followed that up by beating Julio César La Cruz, a five-time world champion.
I really like Albert Ramirez’s boxing style. He constantly moves forward with his hands high and compact, then once he’s closed the distance, he becomes unpredictable. It could be a classic jab-hook combo… or it could start with a body shot before rising to the head. His opponents must struggle to anticipate his attacks.
If there’s a weakness to be found, he does get caught with solid shots at times. So far, his chin has held up, and when he gets hit, he immediately goes back on the attack.
Call King Charles
It’s a tricky period for his promoter, who has to manage a highly ranked fighter. Who should they match him with? They can’t risk his ranking, but he also needs international exposure to become appealing to the biggest names.
Choosing the right opponent at this stage of a career is a puzzle. A call from England to face Joshua Buatsi, Callum Smith, or Anthony Yarde is bound to come soon. If not, let’s force the English to make a move by taking on other British fighters.
Photo: Virginie Assaly
I have Lyndon Arthur, Dan Azeez, and Willy Hutchinson in mind. And you know what? After comparing his last fight with Ramirez’s, I’d now favor Albert over Zach Parker.
“If I get the opportunity to fight the best, I’ll take it. If that’s [David] Benavidez, I’ll do it. Otherwise, Callum Smith, Anthony Yarde, Joshua Buatsi—I just want a shot at these guys. That’s one of my main goals… along with a world title,” Ramirez told Lucas Ketelle of BoxingScene just days before dismantling Calic.
The EOTTM Punchline
EOTTM is establishing itself as a dominant force in the 175-lb division. Just look at BoxRec: Albert Ramirez (8th), Imam Khataev (14th), and – see bellow – Mehmet Unal (20th). The opponents will only get tougher… and more expensive.
Photo: Vincent Ethier
With Artur Beterbiev having just turned 40, EOTTM will likely aim to grab one or two belts after his retirement. It won’t be easy with the presence of Benavidez, Morrell, and Buatsi, but it will give us some incredible fights to watch.
On the Podcast
First, thanks to the forty or so friends and loved ones who attended my birthday dinner. The bar Les Torchés, at 2137 Rosemont Boulevard, is still recovering.
Albert Ramirez is trained by Jacobo Crismatt, a Colombian coach who has had great success internationally in amateur boxing. Plus, Crismatt knows Montreal well—he visited many years before coaching here and is a good friend of Coach Elyo from Gym Corner (formerly Champion).
Photo: Virginie Assaly
Fun fact: Ramirez forgot his WBA International title in Venezuela last week. To keep up appearances, Arslanbek Makhmudov came to the rescue by lending him his old WBA NABA belt, which you can see in the photo below.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Albert Ramirez and ‘his’ belt…
