'Zurdo' to make Golden Boy debut against Barrera in DAZN main event

Fortuna to face 'JoJo' Diaz in lightweight co-feature

Light heavyweight contender Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez will fight for the first time since signing with Golden Boy Promotions in late February when he takes on former world title challenger Sullivan Barrera in a 12-round bout that will headline a DAZN card from a Los Angeles venue to be determined, Golden Boy announced on Tuesday.

“There are a lot of major players in the light heavyweight division right now, and Gilberto Ramirez is ready to demonstrate that he is very much among them,” Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya said. “Sullivan Barrera possesses a decorated amateur background and has a lot of experience in this weight class, but Ramirez is totally committed to becoming a two-division champion. Zurdo’s world title campaign and his journey to 50-0 will start on July 9.”

Ramirez (41-0, 27 KOs), 29, a southpaw from Mexico, vacated his super middleweight world title and moved up to light heavyweight in 2019 but has been quite inactive. He boxed only once in 2019, followed by a split with longtime promoter Top Rank. Ramirez fought once in 2020, a win in December on a card his own Zurdo Promotions put on, before he signed with Golden Boy.

“I'm excited to be headlining this show in Los Angeles with Golden Boy Promotions,” Ramirez said. “It's going to be a great night of boxing with fans back in the stands. I've always enjoyed fighting here, and I can't wait to put on a show to continue my hunt for the light heavyweight championship. I appreciate Oscar and the Golden Boy family for their love and support, and I look will forward to a great night of boxing.”

Barrera (22-3, 14 KOs), 39, a Cuban defector fighting out of Miami, has lost two of his last three fights, including a decision to contender Jesse Hart in his last fight in June 2016 and a 12th-round knockout loss challenging Dmitry Bivol for his world title in 2018.

In April 2020, Barrera was scheduled to face former light heavyweight titlist Sergey Kovalev on DAZN but the card was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This past January, a frustrated Barrera said he planned to move down to super middleweight in an effort to get a notable fight but he wound up getting one with Ramirez at light heavyweight.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to headline such a big card against Gilberto Ramirez,” Barrera said. “I know that my opponent is a former world champion with a lot of experience and that he will come very much prepared. However, I feel that I have faced much better opposition. I’ve also spent my entire career in the light heavyweight division, something that will be totally new for him. It will be a difficult fight, but I will walk away with my hands raised in victory.”

The all-southpaw co-feature will pit lightweight contender Javier Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs), 32, of the Dominican Republic, against former junior lightweight titlist Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz Jr. (31-1-1, 15 KOs), 28, of South El Monte, California, in a 12-rounder.

That deal was finalized on Monday night, Fortuna promoter Sampson Lewkowicz told Fight Freaks Unite.

Diaz is moving up in weight after losing his title on the scale for being overweight for his first title defense in February and ultimately fighting to a draw with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov on Feb. 13. Diaz is taking the place of interim lightweight titlist Ryan Garcia, who recently withdrew from the fight Fortuna, citing mental health issues.

“I’m stepping in for Ryan Garcia to challenge Javier Fortuna,” Diaz said. “I wish (Garcia) nothing but the best. Mental health is a very important matter that people should deal with. I’m excited and ready to go out there and redeem myself to all my fans. I’m extremely focused and locked in. Fight night is going to be a movie. I’ll be putting the whole 130 and 135-pound division on notice.”

Fortuna has had several fights against top names either be ordered by a sanctioning body but not happen or had other fights get called off, so he is pleased to face a top opponent in Diaz.

“I’m very happy that ‘JoJo’ Diaz has accepted the challenge to face me, as long as after the fight he makes no excuses for getting knocked out,” Fortuna said. “I give Diaz credit for having the balls to fight me. Devin Haney doesn’t have those balls. But after I win this fight, (WBC titlist) Haney will have 90 days to find them. Haney can run but he can’t hide. Fight me or give up the WBC title.”

Haney first defends against former three-division titlist Jorge Linares on May 29 (DAZN) in Las Vegas.