Gilberto Ramirez took a swipe at Jai Opetaia and dismissed his claims of avoiding the Australian, saying the IBF and Ring cruiserweight champion has “rocks for brains”.
Ramirez, 34, the unified WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion, confirmed he will face David Benavidez, who is moving up in weight, in an all-Mexico clash on May 2 next year.
Before that bout, Ramirez 48-1 (30 KOs), will take on Sweden’s Robin Sirwan Safar, (19-0) on January 16 in California.
‘Ring of Fire’: Opetaia vs Cinkara for the cruiserweight world titles on December 6 is available to order now on Stan Pay-Per-View
Gilberto Ramirez. Getty
Opetaia has accused Ramirez of ducking him in recent years, with reports Ramirez wanted $12.3 million AUD to fight the Sydney product, a price he most likely knew would not be accepted.
“I’m after the biggest fights possible and I want to make sure I’m fighting the best,” Ramirez said in response to claims he does not want to fight Opetaia.
“To be honest, I didn’t even know who Opetaia was until recently. Someone told me some things he said, and I think he might have rocks for brains.
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“This guy hasn’t impressed me at all; he’s fought a bunch of cannon fodders to get to where he is.
“All these outbursts and spreading lies – saying he called my phone – reminds me of all my ex-girlfriends.”
The unbeaten Opetaia will make a mandatory defence of his two belts against Germany’s Huseyin Cinkara (23-0) on December 6 on the Gold Coast and on Stan Sport.
It will be his eighth fight since winning both belts three years ago and his third appearance this year, after scoring two knockout victories to take his record to 28-0.
His personal brand manager Tarek Barhoun told Wide World of Sports that his fighter is focusing on the Cinkara fight, having “wasted enough breath” on the Mexican fighter.
“He’s focused on December 6th at the moment,” Barhoun said.
Jai Opetaia knocks down David Nyika earlier this year. Getty
“We’ve spoken and wasted enough breath on Ramirez at this point. He’s ducking and his responses continue to emphasise how hard he is trying to avoid the fight.”
Opetaia echoed those sentiments earlier this week to WWOS.
“It is obvious (Ramirez is ducking me). You know, in my eyes, I feel like everyone in the division should try and fight for world titles and then when they’ve got that, they should be trying to fight to unify the division,” Opetaia said.
“But obviously these guys have got other things in their minds. So it’s the same sort of mindset. I can really only focus on what I can focus on and beat whoever they put in front of me.
“I’ve got no doubt these opportunities will come. They’re just taking a bit longer to get over the line.”
Assuming Ramirez gets through his bout with Safar unscathed, he will take on Benavidez, who is moving up from the light heavyweight division to challenge for Ramirez’s two belts.
“I’m excited about this fight, and this is something I’ve targeted for years,” Ramirez said.
“It will be your classic Mexican-versus-Mexican-American war. I’m familiar with David and his team and have shared the gym and ring with them in the past.
“They’re great people, but business is business. Come May, I will have my arm raised.”
Benavidez, 28, is 31-0 (25 KOs), a two-division champion and made his first defence of his light heavyweight title in a seventh-round stoppage of Anthony Yarde in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the weekend.
Ramirez recently won a 12-round unanimous decision over Yuniel Dorticos in June, and had shoulder surgery the following month.