Last night, light heavyweight contenders
Albert Ramirez and
Mehmet Unal stopped their respective opponents early.
Ramirez, rated at No. 6 by The Ring at light heavyweight,
downed previously unbeaten Michael Flannery in two-rounds, while Unal went one better stopping Jan Czerklewicz in the opening round.
You could say neither of Eye of The Tiger's 175-pound fighters played with their food.
Now, promoter Camille Estephan, intends to take them big game hunting and after speaking to his two charges was quick to call out two of the big names in the light heavyweight division.
"Albert Ramirez wants [WBC titleholder] David Benavidez, it would be a war with both fighters styles," said Estephan.
"Mehmet Unal wants [Joshua] Buatsi. This one would be pure violence!"
Benavidez (30-0, 24 knockouts) won the WBC Interim title against David Morrell in February and was upgraded to full champion when
Dmitry Bivol gained revenge over Artur Beterbiev in the rematch later in February but was unable to face Benavidez pertaining to a likely agreement for a third fight with Beterbiev in the fall.
The unbeaten American, who previously held the WBC title at super middleweight, had been tabbed to make his maiden defense in August, however, his partner has just given birth, and his return now looks to be headed towards October.
Currently, Ramirez, who moved to (21-0, 18 KOs) with his win and sits at No. 4 with the WBC behind No. 1 Beterbiev, No. 2 Morrell and No. 3 Oleksandr Gvozdyk. He may be one of the most viable opponents for Benavidez, with
Bivol-Beterbiev III taking place later this year and Benavidez already holding wins over Morrell and Gvozdyk.
Meanwhile, Buatsi (19-1, 13 KOs), who represented Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics, had beaten Willy Hutchinson in a slow burn fight before it erupted into action in the second half of the fight.
Buatsi claimed the WBO Interim title in that win but
lost it to a resurgent Callum Smith in another barnburner.
Unal (13-0, 11 KOs) is a Turkish born fighter, who represented his homeland at the 2016 Olympics but was in the other half of the draw from Buatsi. He emigrated to Montreal and set up camp with Marc Ramsay.
Their union has seen him steadily move up the ranks and grow each time he’s fought. Unal isn't someone you have to go looking for and a potential fight with Buatsi promises excitement.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on X @
AnsonWainwr1ght.