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Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter
Earlier this month, Jai Opetaia called out Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for a cruiserweight unification bout.
Ramirez can get one step closer to making that fight happen if he defends his WBA/WBO cruiserweight world titles against hard-hitting Cuban fighter Yuniel Dorticos at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and exclusively live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, on Saturday night.
Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs) became the unified cruiserweight champ by defeating Chris Billam-Smith by unanimous decision in November.
Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) produced a first-round knockout of Alan Campa in January 2024 during his last time out.
Will Ramirez outpoint Dorticos towards unifying with IBF title holder Opetaia next? Or will 'The KO Doctor' Dorticos crush that ambition and perhaps set up his own showdown with Opetaia next?
With the stakes high, DAZN News analyzes the keys to victory for both the champion and challenger.
Gilberto Ramirez’s Keys to Victory
Utilize swift movement
Watch Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez move in the ring and you will notice an efficient fighter who picks his spots well, whether it is cutting the ring in half or stepping into his punches only to move back and re-assert his range with more real estate to work with.
Against a heavy-handed puncher like Yuniel Dorticos, this kind of savvy, strategic movement will be necessary.
Turn the volume up
Touching his opponents with the jab, working the body and creating combinations, Ramirez is best when his punch count is on the steady uptick.
This allows him to drown opponents with output, racking up points and the rounds that come with them.
His volume might be too much for Dorticos to handle.
Let the combinations fly
The southpaw has power and deceptive speed to his punch with both hands and part of his aforementioned uptick in volume certainly includes the combinations ‘Zurdo’ is able to produce in bunches.
What makes Ramirez's combos so impressive is his ability to step into the pocket and unleash them or stringing them together at a distance.
Either way, they are going to smack opponents.
Yuniel Dorticos’ Keys to Victory
Make clubbing shots to the body
One way to hinder some of Ramirez’s movement in and out the pocket would be for Dorticos to slam the body with some pounding shots.
This body attack might not yield immediate results but it will take a toll as the bout continues and could slow 'Zurdo' down.
Up the output
Knowing that ‘Zurdo’ is going to be letting it fly, Dorticos himself must up his punch count, too.
This could come on the counterpunch end as well, but the Cuban fighter must show resistance to getting touched up by the unified champ.
With knockout power, every warning shot he throws and connects on could force Ramirez to reassess.
Detonate that big right hand
Dorticos possesses the great eviscerating shot with his right hand.
‘Zurdo’ can be hit flush. Now, it is just a matter of whether Dorticos can time the shot.
It might be just what 'The KO Doctor' orders for an upset and snatching of the unified cruiserweight crown.
Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Gilberto Ramirez vs Yuniel Dorticos will be streamed exclusively on DAZN PPV, Saturday, June 28. Buy the PPV now here
