WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto 'Jurdo' Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs) has been ordered by the WBA to defend his next fight against mandatory Uniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs).
The Cuban-born Dorticos, 38, has fought just three times in the past four years, defeating obscure low-level opposition to earn a mandatory spot with the World Boxing Association. Not ideal for a fighter to occupy the #1 slot, but the cruiserweight division is devoid of talent. Dorticos is one of the few good fighters in this weight class, and he's not young.
Integration is delayed
Ramirez plans a unification fight against the IBF cruiserweight champion Joy Apetaiya must be held. He will have to wait until he drops this fight against Dorticos. Of course, there's always the possibility of a step-down deal at Golden Boy if Ramirez's promoters want to go that route.
It's too bad the IBF didn't use former WBA champion Arsene Goulamirian as a mandatory, but that wouldn't make sense either, as Ramirez beat him by a 12-round unanimous decision on March 30 last year. Still, it would be infinitely better than fighting an inactive Dorticos.
