Unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez takes on former champion Yuniel Dorticos on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Saturday, June 28, and he has his hands full against the hard-punching Cuban.
As Ramirez is emerging as a potential challenger for Paul, who himself has championship ambitions in the future, he’ll have to survive a stern challenge from Dorticos.
Boxing odds have Ramirez as the favorite at -1000 while Dorticos is a +600 underdog. Here are my best Ramirez vs Dorticos predictions and free betting picks from the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Ramirez vs Dorticos prediction and pick
- My fight prediction: Ramirez moneyline (-1400 at DraftKings)
- My best bet: Ramirez by decision (+125 at DraftKings)
Fight analysis
Gilberto Ramirez might not have the star power or gravitas as fellow countrymen Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, but the man from Mazatlan has been quietly building a solid resume that has seen him win titles at super middleweight and cruiserweight, all while battling respectable opposition.
Ramirez's only loss came to light heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol three years ago, and he’s rebounded by moving up to cruiserweight and now holds two titles.
He’s coming off a decision win over Chris Billam-Smith last November and will have a tough, but aging, former champion in front of him in Yuniel Dorticos. Though Dorticos is not a natural cruiserweight, he has excellent boxing abilities and can hold his own when the fight goes to the inside.
In the Billiam-Smith fight, he took some good shots and his chin held up just fine, and he was evasive enough and quick to the trigger to turn defense to offense, resulting in a decision win wider than the scores indicated.
A few years ago, Dorticos was recognized as one of the biggest punchers in the division, and he will likely hold that distinction as long as he’s fighting, but times have changed. Of his 27 wins, 25 have come by knockout.
Even though he is a product of the vaunted Cuban school of boxing, he does not have much else aside from his power, and his gas tank has failed him in the two biggest fights of his career. Mairis Bredis survived his power early and stepped on the gas when Dorticos lost steam after four rounds in 2020, and he’s won three fights in a row against lowly opposition since then.
With how hard Dorticos punches, and considering Ramirez is not a natural cruiserweight, he can’t be written off on that basis alone. However, fighters who succeed in their primes despite conditioning issues tend to ignore them, and it gets worse with age, so the 39-year-old Dorticos’ window is extremely narrow.
Expect Ramirez to clear the danger zone early and use his movement and volume to dominate Dorticos for the victory.
Best best analysis
Ramirez is a diligent puncher, though he will have to land more leather than normal to stop someone in this weight class. Staying too close to Dorticos is not a good idea early on, and he’ll diffuse that situation by staying light on his feet and targeting the Cuban’s gas tank.
By the middle rounds, Dorticos will be gasping for air and have no sting to his shots, leaving Ramirez to have his way with the fight. My best bet is Ramirez by decision.
Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos odds
| Method of victory | Gilberto Ramirez | Yuniel Dorticos |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -1400 | +750 |
| Win by KO/TKO | -115 | +1100 |
| Win by points or decision | +115 | +2200 |
| Draw | +1800 | +1800 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of 6-28.
Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos tale of the tape
| Ramirez | Dorticos | |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Age | 39 |
| 6-foot-2 | Height | 6-foot-3 |
| Cruiserweight | Weight Class | Cruiserweight |
| 75 inches | Reach | 80 inches |
| 47-1 | Record | 27-2 |
| 30 | Wins by KO | 25 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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