One of the best fights to come in 2025 is the cruiserweight unification bout between WBA and WBO titleholder Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and IBF reigning champion Jai Opetaia.
Opetia returns to action in Australia on January 8 against David Nica, while Ramirez is building on his impressive win over Chris Billam-Smith in November. where he added the WBO title to his WBA belt.
Billam-Smith, who now hopes to take the WBC route in 2025, said he believes the match between Ramirez-Opetaia will be able to compete
“I don’t know,” Billum-Smith said when asked who would win. “I think it depends on the first few rounds. He’s a very smart fighter, Zurdo. I know he’s smarter than you know sometimes, but Opetaia is very good, very technical, he’s got good feet. And I think you have to have good feet to beat Zurdo. I think quick feet and keeping your form. And things like that are important. That is how he would beat him with his feet.”
between the two position owners Ramirez is the only career loser. And that is the great light heavyweight Dmitry Bivol. Billam-Smith admires Bivol while also believing that Opeteia-Ramirez It will be a different battle strategically.
“I don’t think Opetaia is the same in terms of his approach,” Billam-Smith said. “I think sometimes he shuts down after the Opetaia fight in terms of how he looks for the big shots. Or a big back,” but I think it’s definitely a 50-50 fight.
“I want to see it. It’s not often you say that about two southern paws, either. But I want to see it.”
