Identity cards rarely lie, and this time was no exception: despite an excellent performance, Yuniel Dorticos had to make way for Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, who retained his WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory. The judges scored the bout 115-112, 115-112, and 117-110.
As the co-main event of the night promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, the fight between Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs) and Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) was one of the most anticipated cruiserweight clashes of 2025. The division is currently in a transitional phase, with few high-profile newcomers and aging stars reluctant to step aside.
Ramirez, the reigning WBA and WBO champion, was looking to solidify his position as one of the top names in the division alongside Jay Opetaia, and to further boost his stock after moving up from light heavyweight. Dorticos, a former IBF champion known for his punching power and fiery temperament, was aiming for one last shot at world glory at the age of 39—a final opportunity to extend a career that had seen him at the top of the division for years.
While many expected a straightforward win for Ramirez, the Mexican had to wait for a clear decline from the Cuban before taking control. The 39-year-old Dorticos remained highly competitive—at least through the first six rounds. After that, Zurdo pulled away: Ramirez’s physical freshness and high work rate eventually smothered Dorticos’s offensive efforts, despite the Cuban’s attempts to land a fight-ending punch.
Ramirez started well, clearly targeting Dorticos’s body to weaken him early. But after a cautious opening round, Dorticos began pressing forward, working effectively behind a strong jab and closing the distance to land hooks and uppercuts to the body and head. Early on, the Cuban received two warnings for low blows—an obvious attempt to sap Zurdo’s energy.
During this stretch, Dorticos showcased the best of his arsenal: a sharp, solid jab and the ability to fight well at mid-to-close range, particularly with his left uppercut to the body and head. While he couldn’t land his trademark right cross—the punch that had often finished fights—Ramirez wisely neutralized Dorticos’s work and waited patiently for his opportunity to shift into higher gear.
In round six, Dorticos landed a clean left hook that visibly connected, but Ramirez kept his composure and responded with two straight left hands to the face. Both fighters used their jabs well, trying to control the range.
In the second half of the bout, the fight unfolded as expected. Zurdo increased his work rate and began applying more consistent pressure on the Cuban. Though Dorticos remained dangerous with short-range shots—especially his left hook and uppercut—he’s typically at his most threatening from mid-to-long range, where he can fully extend his powerful right hand.
Ramirez’s game plan was clear: neutralize Dorticos’s most dangerous weapon while draining his stamina and confidence. In round seven, a solid left hook from Zurdo landed flush on Dorticos’s face, just as the Cuban was visibly struggling after a tough round where he’d been largely on the defensive.
From that point on, Ramirez’s punches began breaching Dorticos’s guard with greater ease and effectiveness. Dorticos appeared tired, flat-footed, and slower in his reflexes. Ramirez never let up, staying in his opponent’s face.
The momentum didn’t shift in the remaining rounds, with Ramirez dictating the pace and alternating between bursts of aggression and brief recovery phases.
Fatigue clouded Dorticos’s judgment, and despite a few solid shots, it became increasingly clear that the fight was unfolding as many had predicted. Frustration boiled over in round ten, when Dorticos was officially warned after landing a series of blatant low blows.
The bout drifted toward its conclusion with Ramirez consolidating his lead and Dorticos searching in vain for the miracle punch that never came. The Cuban’s reflexes and explosiveness are no longer what they once were, and in the second half of the fight, Ramirez had little trouble controlling the action, limiting his opponent’s increasingly sporadic offense—fueled now mostly by pride.
At the final bell, the verdict confirmed Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez’s victory. He now looks ahead to a long-awaited unification bout with Jay Opetaia, the division’s other major force. For Dorticos, it marks the end of an era—one in which he played a key role and stood as one of the cruiserweight division’s most formidable figures.