Gilberto Ramirez vs Chris Billam-Smith Prediction & Tips
Chris Billam-Smith faces his toughest test to date in Riyadh on Saturday night as he defends his WBO world cruiserweight crown against WBA titleholder Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
Both men are world champions but Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) is a clear underdog here. The fight headlines Riyadh Season’s ‘Latino Night’ and Mexico’s Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) is the star attraction on a stacked card.
Ramirez is a two-division champion with a 46-1 record – his only defeat coming at the hands of Dmitry Bivol via a wide decision back in 2022.
Tip 1 – Chris Billam-Smith to win at 21/10
Ramirez is a superstar fighter and an elite-level boxer. He is a few levels above anything Billam-Smith has ever come up against previously from a technical perspective – but there are a few reasons why the underdog looks worth considering at the current prices.
Billam-Smith has one loss on his record and that came via a split decision to Richard Riakporhe in 2019. The Bournemouth native responded well to that setback, picking up victories over the likes of Tommy McCarthy, Isaac Chamberlain and Armend Xhoxhaj to win bouts at British and European level and earn his world title chance against Lawrence Okolie.
‘The Gentleman’ was the underdog against Okolie and he was in the same position again in a rematch with the 17-0 Riakporhe in his last fight yet, on both occasions, he upset the odds.
Okolie and Riakporhe are both huge punchers so that is where the comparison with technician Ramirez ends – but what was most striking was Billam-Smith’s gameplan in both of those fights.
The 34-year-old and his team had clearly done their homework on his opponents and Billam-Smith was able to take away their main weapons.
The Englishman is also an awkward fighter who is capable of both boxing at range and closing the distance. He has marginal height and reach advantages over Ramirez and is the more natural cruiserweight.
Since losing to Bivol, Ramirez has had a mini-rebuild with bouts against Joe Smith Jnr and Arsen Goulamirian, winning both via unanimous decision.
Billam-Smith has probably been in the ring with the better standard of opponent over the last few years and is in his best form, while this is Ramirez’s first major test since his defeat to Bivol.
All these factors combine to make a win for the underdog look an attractive proposition.
Tip 2 –Chris Billam-Smith to win by decision at 13/4
Whoever ends up winning on Saturday, there is a good chance the judges will be required as neither of these men boast hugely impressive knockout rates and both are incredibly durable.
The fight to go the distance looks like a strong play, so pushing out the main bet of a Billam-Smith win by backing him to win on points is another option here.
Billam-Smith’s most notable stoppage came against Mateusz Masternak in December of last year – and it was a necessary one as the veteran Pole was ahead on the scorecards.
Until the finish, that was not a vintage Billam-Smith display but he should be fully focused and better prepared for Ramirez.
The Gentleman has a fantastic work-rate and will probably be the fighter on the front foot in Riyadh.
Ramirez is a southpaw and has speed on his side, but Billam-Smith is awkward to land on, and if he can close the distance and get inside, he can connect with the more eye-catching shots and that may see the judges side with the Briton in Riyadh.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation