23:28:21
THAT’S ALL FOLKS
That concludes our live blog from Latino Night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where two new unified champions were crowned – one at minimumweight in Oscar Collazo while Gilberto Ramirez did the business up at cruiserweight. Thanks for joining and we will see you at the next one.
23:26:51
THE GENTLEMAN’S IRONY
Billam-Smith said: “I guess there’s a bit of irony. My initials are CBS and I say consistency builds success and I think that is what won it for him, his consistency.”
When asked whether the cut above his eye was a factor, he said: “A little bit, it’s part of the sport. At times it was going blurry and closing a bit. there were a few rounds where I couldn’t really see out the eye.”
On that is next for him after losing his world title, Bill-Smith added: “I’ll have a rest and enjoy Christmas. We will go back and assess and keep improving.”
23:22:43
ZURDO SPEAKS
The new unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez said: “I feel great. I’m unified champion. Thank you everyone!
“I prepared for these guys, me and my team knew he was a tough fighter and a strong guy. It was an honour for me to fight him and get the belt. I’m grateful to be here.
“He’s tough. He came forward all the time and he’s strong too. I have respect for him because he’s a great champion. Everyone thought I was a super-middleweight but now I’m unified cruiserweight champion. It’s time to enjoy the night.”
23:19:40
GILBERTO RAMIREZ UD 12
All three judges have Gilberto Ramirez the winner with scores of 116-112 twice and 116-113 to crown him the unified WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion. Billam-Smith applauds the decision. What a fight.
23:16:09
WE GO TO THE SCORECARDS!
A gruelling, absorbing and hard-fought 12 rounds are over and we go to the scorecards – but Zurdo Ramirez seems to have done enough to win against a spirited Billam-Smith. We await the decision….
23:12:13
WHAT A WAR
Despite being behind on the cards, bloodied and bruised, Billam-Smith is refusing to budge and has the better of an incredibly gruelling 11th round. “No messing around,” says McGuigan. “Be ruthless.”
There are three minutes to go.
23:08:05
TWO TO GO
There is not an ounce of quit in the bloody Billam-Smith, who produces one of his best rounds of the fight to force Zurdo against the ropes and have some success on the inside. It will probably be too little too late for the Englishman but he is going nowhere here despite some big left hands from Zurdo.
23:03:50
WARRIOR HEART
Billam-Smith has not boxed a southpaw for over six years and he is struggling to see Zurdo’s straight left hand coming. The heavy bleeding will not be helping him, either. But he is hanging tough and still applying pressure up close. With three left, CBS needs a knockout now.
23:00:10
FINAL THIRD
The eighth is another tough one for Billam-Smith, who has some success of his own up close but is also starting to get broken down by the combination punching of Ramirez. The man from Bournemouth has four rounds to try and turn this one around but Ramirez seems to be going through the gears here.
22:56:09
BLEEDING HECK
The doctor is called in to have a look at the cut above Billam-Smith’s left eye but he is happy for referee Harvey Dock to allow it to continue. But by the end of another hard-fought round, it is bleeding heavily and seems to be affecting the WBO champion’s ability to see the shots coming. We head into round eight.
22:51:52
HALFWAY POINT
Zurdo is ahead by Billam-Smith is not out of this yet. Although he is breathing heavily and bleeding, the Englishman is digging in and forcing Ramirez to work for every second of the round. The Mexican, however, is still landing with eye-catching shots – but can he maintain the output down the stretch?
22:47:57
FIVE DOWN
Billam-Smith follows his trainer’s instructions and attempts to close the distance and make this a scrap with the sharpshooting Mexican. He lands a good right uppercut up close but Ramirez responds with another crisp left hand. Zurdo is starting to pull away on the cards now.
22:43:45
CBS CUT
A big fourth for Ramirez opens up a cut above Billam-Smith’s left eye as the Mexican starts to have success with a slashing right hook from his southpaw stance. “You’ve got to back this guy up,” says Shane McGuigan in the corner before the start of the fifth. How important will that cut be?
22:39:41
ACTION THIRD
Zurdo makes a great start to the third and lands another crunching left hook from his southpaw stance. But Billam-Smith recovers well and starts to apply pressure of his own. But the skills of Zurdo are never far away and he lands another good left hand before the bell.
22:35:40
GOOD RESPONSE FROM ZURDO
After a testing first, the Mexican settles further in the second and walks Billam-Smith onto a big left hand early in the round. The Bournemouth man wears it well and continues to march forward. This one is heating up nicely. Into the third we go…
22:29:40
GOOD CBS START
Good start for CBS who lands a solid straight right hand, follows it up with a body shot and a then left hook. For a second Zurdo looks surprised but then quickly settles and lands with a body shot of his own. Billam-Smith appears to be the stronger of the two and dictates the clinches, landing with a left hook on the break too. A very promising start for the underdog from England.
22:23:13
FIRST, THE ANTHEMS
22:18:17
SWIFTLY FOLLOWED BY ZURDO…
We are good to go.
22:15:59
EVEN BUFFER’S HERE
You know it’s a big one when Michael Buffer turns up for the main event. He summons Chris Billam-Smith to the ring first.
22:03:17
MAIN EVENT TIME
That is all five undercard fights done and dusted – now it is time for the big(ish) boys as Chris Billam-Smith and Gilberto Ramirez clash for the WBO and WBA 200lb titles. Ringwalks are coming soon.
21:58:06
BARBOZA JR UD 10
Arnold Barboza gets the nod from all three judges and there are no complaints for Jose Ramirez after this 10-round California derby. The official scores were 97-93, 96-94, 96-94. Victory moves Barboza to 31-0 (11), although he is still yet to fight over 12 rounds. “I’m the only fighter at the top who hasn’t got a shot yet,” he says.
21:54:22
WE GO TO THE SCORECARDS
That’s that – Arnold Barboza Jr and Jose Ramirez share 10 rounds. Not the firefight that many had predicted but it looked as though Barboza did enough to retain his undefeated record and secure the most significant victory of his career to date. We await the decision.
21:50:14
ONE TO GO
21:46:21
BARBOZA RACKING THEM UP?
Another patient round from Barboza who appears to control the round without ever really needing to throw any caution to the wind. Instead he keeps things long whenever Ramirez begins to edge into range and does not seem to be getting hit much. We head into the ninth…
21:42:27
SOLID SEVENTH
That was the best round of the fight so far as both men decide to just up the output a little. Ramirez starts the round on the front foot and has 30 seconds of good success but Barboza settles and begins to land with combinations of his own. Perhaps both fighters are aware that this one is just passing them by a little. Still all to play for in the final three rounds but Barboza is surely ahead.
21:39:02
NEARLY GO TIME
The Gentleman is primed and ready backstage.
RIYADH SEASON PROMOTION
BOULEVARD CITY,
RIYADH
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
WBO & WBA WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE UNIFICATION
CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH V GILBERTO RAMIREZ
21:34:10
FIVE DOWN, FIVE TO GO
Remember when I said this fight could be the best of the night? Let the record show, no blog entry has ever aged so badly. We are five down and nothing has happened. The fifth was decent for Barboza, who did manage to land with a couple of right hands but Ramirez did not really feel them. Into the sixth we go, is anyone going to do anything?
21:29:44
FLAT AS A PANCAKE
The fourth comes and goes in a similar pattern with Barboza circling around the outside and Ramirez attempting to press him into corners and close the gap. However, he is struggling to do those things and Barboza is getting very little off either. Six left.
21:27:23
INTO THE FOURTH WE GO
We are approaching the halfway stage of Ramirez-Barboza and this is very even. None of the four champions at 140lbs will be losing any sleep based on this, however.
21:24:51
TENTATIVE START
This one is simmering but not close to catching fire here. The atmosphere inside the arena also seems to have dropped and this is all a bit pedestrian so far. Three rounds have slipped past and basically nothing has happened yet.
21:10:06
CHIEF SUPPORT UP NEXT
This has been a belting card already but this super-lightweight clash between Jose Ramirez and Arnold Barboza might just be the best of the lot. The pair have a combined record of 59-1 and both know victory here will propel them toward a world title shot in a wide open 140lb division. Hold onto your hats, these 10 rounds could be fun.
20:54:07
IS SHAKUR NEXT? ZEPEDA SPEAKS
After edging Tevin Farmer via split decision, a low-key William Zepeda discusses his performance.
“It shows we have to perfect a lot of things,” he said. “But I am happy with my performance tonight. He tries to smother me and close me down and not allow me to feel comfortable. But I’m happy with the rhythm we found to get the victory.
On the knockdown, he added: “I think during the fight it surprised me a little bit and maybe knocked my confidence a little but. so I had to draw on my experience to get through it and win the fight.”
On his lofty position with the sanctioning bodies, he added: “Since I’ve been in this position we’ve been waiting for the opportunity. Now it’s about resting with my family, my newly born son, and then we will see after that. Is Shakur Stevenson next? Yeah, we are just waiting now to receive that firm offer for the opportunity and we will take that opportunity obviously.”
20:51:03
ZEPEDA TAKES A SPLIT!
That’s about as close as it can get for William Zepeda, who wins 95-94 on two cards while the other goes to Tevin Farmer by the same margin. That’s an almighty scare for the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO No.1 rated fighter – but on he marches.
20:46:55
WE GO TO THE SCORECARDS
After a hard start, Tevin Farmer drops William Zepeda in the fourth round to put the cat among the pigeons in this fight. But has the veteran done enough to pull off a huge upset? We await the decision.
20:42:35
ONE TO GO
Zepeda is refusing to fade down the stretch and Farmer is using all of his experience and nouse to navigate these relentless attacks from the Mexican. It is always impossible to predict how the judges are seeing things but you would think Farmer needs to win this last round to have any chance of taking the W here.
20:37:19
FARMER GOING NOWHERE
Zepeda is doing his best to go through the gears but Farmer is refusing to wilt. He is even boxing with his hands down through the eighth and starts showboating at the end of the round, holding onto the rope with one hand and slipping and sliding Zepeda’s attacks with his head movement alone. We go into the ninth and penultimate round.
20:30:31
ANYONE’S GAME
It’s a decent round for Zepeda but Farmer is still trying to apply the pressure by physically forcing Zepeda backwards whenever he can. After one-way traffic in the first third, this has turned into a very even contest which could still go either way, but could the youth of Zepeda make a difference?
20:26:47
HALFWAY HOME
The intensity and variety of Zepeda’s attacks has clearly changed since the knockdown and Farmer looks to be growing in confidence, even landing with a long, looping uppercut with his rear hand in the fifth. That is the halfway mark in the fight, and that is probably now a level fight with Zepeda 3-2 up but minus a knockdown. All to play for down the stretch.
20:21:48
HUGE ROUND FOR FARMER
Clearly not happy with being bullied by Zepeda, Farmer decides to start moving forward himself in the fourth and goes head-to-head with the Mexican for the first time. And it brings him a huge breakthrough as he slips outside a Zepeda jab and counters with a sublime left hand to drop the favourite. Could that be a turnaround?
20:20:51
DOWN GOES ZEPEDA!
With over a minute left in the fourth, a big left hand drops Zepeda!
20:18:29
THREE ZIP ZEPEDA
Zepeda seems to have zero respect for Farmer’s power as he stalks into range with little concern about what might come back. When he gets there, it’s like target practice as he is peppering Farmer with every shot in the book. But the American lands with a cross-uppercut combination right on the bell to give Zepeda a reminder of his class.
20:13:38
HEAT RISING
Farmer, a former world champion at super-featherweight, is known for his slickness but he is struggling to get out of the way of these shots from a relentless Zepeda in the second. If it carries on like this it is hard to imagine Farmer making it to the final bell against a man with 27 KOs from 31 wins.
20:10:07
ONE DOWN
Sometimes southpaw derbies can be tentative affairs but Zepeda is straight down to business working a fast jab to head and body. But Farmer, who shakes his head at his opponent a number of times throughout the first, is never in any trouble. He does, however, take a right hook pretty flush. The second is now underway…
20:01:23
ZEPEDA UP NEXT
After a big win for Golden Boy via Oscar Collazo, it is now time for William Zepeda, amazingly ranked No.1 with all four sanctioning bodies, to add to his burgeoning reputation as the lightweight champion in waiting. But can the experienced 34-year-old Tevin Farmer put a pin in the hype? The fighters are in the ring.
20:00:56
STATEMENT MADE
19:45:19
HISTORY MAN SPEAKS…
Oscar Collazo said: “A lot of people doubted. The reigning champion, much respect to him, a lot of people said after 10 fights I couldn’t make it. But look at where we are at.
“I listened to my team and waited patiently for my shot. He’s a veteran so I waited patiently for my shot. My corner told me to throw that right hook and I got it, it landed right on the button.
“What do I want next? I want all the belts. I want to make history by becoming the first undisputed champion from Puerto Rico.”
19:38:38
IT’S ALL OVER!
Oscar Collazo unifies the minimumweight division with a punch perfect performance against Knockout CP Freshmart. After a knockdown in the sixth, Collazo drops the Thai visitor again early in the seventh and, when a vicious uppercut puts him over for a third time, the referee dispenses with the count and waves it straight off. That was a masterclass from the Puerto Rican, who is now the WBO and WBA champion.
19:36:23
DOWN GOES NIYOMTRONG!
After steadily going through the gears, Collazo gets his breakthrough in the final stages of the sixth, landing a beautiful check right hook right on the button to send Knockout CP Freshmart over. He gets up in time to beat the count but he was clearly hurt. How can he come back from that in the seventh?
19:32:48
CLEAN SWEEP?
We are five down and it’s almost impossible to give Niyomtrong a single one of them with Collazo in total control. He started to go through the gears in the fifth, landing again to the body but also making a dent with a big right hook to the head. Niyomtrong needs a change of plan.
19:25:26
SWITCHING LEVELS
Southpaw Collazo is now looking to spear a straight left hand into the belly before bringing that hook upstairs and Niyomtrong has let it through a couple of times. Collazo has seven stoppages from his 10 wins so is the puncher in this fight and he looks to be the more adventurous here too.
19:19:53
COLLAZO WARMING UP
Niyomtrong is insistent on parrying Collazo’s jab with his lead hand which has given the Puerto Rican a chance to feint it before bringing his hook round the side. The 10-0 WBO champion looks physically bigger here but can he impose himself on the long-reigning champ?
19:16:10
HAVING A LOOK
At 25-0, Niyomtrong is clearly the more experienced campaigner here but there are high hopes that Collazo could become a star of the lower weights. A tentative start from both here but a good right hand from Niyomtrong lands against his southpaw opponent with a minute left of the first.
19:11:37
FIRST UNIFICATION OF THE NIGHT…
Before CBS and Zurdo go at it up at cruiserweight, we have a unification down at minimumweight – and somebody’s 0 has got to go. WBO champion Oscar Collazo, who holds the record as the fastest Puerto Rican to win a world title, takes on WBA king Thammanoon Niyontrong aka Knockout CP Freshmart. Here we go…
19:02:18
CBS SPEAKS…
Backstage in his dressing room, a very relaxed Chris Billam-Smith speaks ahead of his world title unification at the top of the bill.
“I’m very chilled,” he said. “It builds slowly. We are focused, here ready to do a job but the flick won’t be fully switched until hands are wrapped. It feels like a big fight, it feels huge, you’ve got Golden Boy and American media. It feels like a big fight so it’s exciting.”
18:47:51
DUARTE UD 10
After putting in a huge shift there, Duarte gets the unanimous decision. The scores were 98-92, 97-93, 96-94, the last of which was probably closest to telling the story of the fight. 98-92, however, is too wide and harsh on the effort from Akhmedov who was there every step of the way.
18:45:33
WE WOZ RIGHT
So despite Sky saying this was a 12-rounder, that was in fact the 10th and final round of a brilliant firefight between Oscar Duarte and Batyr Akhmedov. It looked like Duarte might have just about done enough to edge it but we await the judges’ scorecards…
18:42:18
STILL NO LET UP
It’s impossible to take your eyes off the action here with both men standing in the pocket, winging away with hooks to both head and body. Duarte seems to be catching and countering, particularly with his right hook, with most efficiency but he is still not really putting a dent in his opponent. Into the 10th we head.
18:33:37
DUARTE TURNING THE SCREW
The Mexican is starting to walk Akhmedov down during the seventh, which is getting Duarte’s corner very excited. It’s worth remembering that Akhmedov was a late replacement for Kenneth Sims Jr for this fight – does he have the conditioning to hang tough for this whole fight at short notice?
18:30:50
AKHMEDOV HURT?
Another good round for Duarte in the sixth and he seems to make something of a breakthrough by hurting Akhmedov. But the Uzbek is made of stern stuff and shows no signs of wilting here.
18:25:09
DUARTE ROARS BACK
The man from Chihuahua shows he’s got that dog in him as he comes back in an all-action fifth and starts to target Akhmedov’s body, often landing with slashing left and right hooks downstairs before bringing a left hook to the chin to finish the combination. Even so, the Uzbek southpaw shows no sign of fading here. Into the sixth we go…
18:21:58
GOOD FOURTH FOR AKHMEDOV
The Uzbek really puts a shift in during the fourth and starts to land with more consistency against Duarte, who is backing his defences up closes but still appears to be letting a few through. Can the Golden Boy man respond here in the fifth?
18:17:58
THREE DOWN
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has taken his seat at ringside just in time to see the third round of this one tick by. The fourth is now underway and the pair basically ran at it each other when the bell went there. This is very even so far but can they both maintain this pace in the pocket?
18:13:03
HOW MANY?
Boxrec says 10, we’ve been told 10, but Sky reckon this is actually a 12-rounder. I guess we will soon find out which it is. Either way, there is more good action in the second so there will be few complaints if this one is the full 12.
18:09:04
PROMISING START HERE
Southpaw Akhmedov ‘The Shark’ straight on the hunt, attempting to take centre ring by forcing Duarte back with his firm jab. But Duarte looks in no mood to start slowly either. Both men have moments of success in an entertaining first round.
18:02:52
FIRST 10 ROUNDER UP NOW….
After the card opened with a majority draw over six threes between Ziyad Almaayouf and Juan Carlos Ramirez Garcia, we are now into the first 10-round clash of the evening at The Venue in Riyadh. Golden Boy’s Oscar Duarte takes on Botirzhon Akhmedov at super-lightweight. The action is about to begin…
Gilberto Ramirez vs. Chris Billam-Smith: Live Updates & Results
Gilberto Ramirez faces Chris Billam-Smith in the main event of Riyadh Season’s Latino Night.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – NOVEMBER 14: Gilberto Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith face off during the press conference for the WBO World Cruiserweight title fight as part of the Riyadh Season – Latino Night on November 14, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Where can you watch Gilberto Ramirez vs. Chris Billam-Smith?
It will be shown live on DAZN. UK fans have the additional option of watching it on Sky Sports.
Main event ring-walks will be around 10.30pm (UK time), 5.30pm (ET) and 3.30pm (PT).
What fights are on the Gilberto Ramirez vs. Chris Billam-Smith undercard?
12 x 3 mins – WBA ‘Super’ and WBO cruiserweight world titles
Gilberto Ramirez 199.6lbs
Chris Billam-Smith 199.4lbs
12 x 3 mins – WBA ‘Super’ and WBO minimumweight world titles
Oscar Collazo 104.8lbs
Thammanoon ‘Knockout CP Freshmart’ Niyomtrong 104.8lbs
10 x 3 mins – super-lightweight
Jose Ramirez 139.6lbs
Arnold Barboza 140lbs
10 x 3 mins – lightweight
William Zepeda 134.2lbs
Tevin Farmer 135lbs
10 x 3 mins – super-lightweight (catchweight)
Oscar Duarte 141.8lbs
Batyr Akhmedov 141.8lbs
6 x 3 mins – welterweight
Ziyad Almaayouf 143.2lbs
Juan Garcia 144.8lbs
