On Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, Gilberto Ramirez delivered an extraordinary performance that saw him emerge as the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight world champion. His electric speed and accuracy were on full display as he overcame the toughness of Chris Billam-Smith in a thrilling main event. The judge's cards showed a decisive 116-112, 116-112, 116-113 victory for Ramirez, while Billam-Smith fell to 20-2 after a successful title defence in June.

Ramirez's Agility and Timing Define Cruiserweight Clash

Ramirez's Early Dominance

Ramirez showcased his agility and timing from the very beginning. His ability to out-manoeuvre Billam-Smith impressively was a defining factor throughout the fight. He consistently found his target by manipulating angles, leaving Billam-Smith struggling to keep up. In the opening rounds, Billam-Smith's physicality was evident with a lead right hand that had Ramirez on the back foot, but Ramirez was quick to respond.In the second round, Ramirez seized an opening with a thumping left hand and followed it up with tidy work at the ropes. He then exposed himself to a crunching right hook from Billam-Smith but managed to squeeze in a left hook of his own at the bell. This all-action start set the tone for the rest of the fight.

Middle Rounds: A Battle of Shots

In the third round, Ramirez timed a smart lead right hand to snap back Billam-Smith's head. He followed it with a three-punch combination at the ropes and a vicious left hook. However, Billam-Smith fought back with a bruising uppercut, showing his own resilience. Ramirez continued to seek the fight on the front foot, capitalizing on Billam-Smith's moments of vulnerability. His superior accuracy and timing continued to cause problems for Billam-Smith.In the fourth round, Ramirez broke through with a rocking right hand that unbalanced Billam-Smith momentarily. His accuracy and timing were on full display as he put Billam-Smith's chin and legs to the test. Trainer Shane McGuigan urged his fighter to put Billam-Smith on the back foot, and Ramirez responded with more powerful shots.

Final Stages: A Gruelling Duel

Billam-Smith refused to fade despite the blood trickling from his eye. Ramirez persisted in applying pressure with impressive variation between head and body shots and showed a willingness to meet his counterpart on the inside. In the eighth round, the combinations flew again from Ramirez, but Billam-Smith stood firm and landed a string of right hooks at the end of the round.As the fight entered the final round, both men were trading flush hooks almost simultaneously. Ramirez pinned Billam-Smith into the corner and unloaded another flurry in a bid to secure the win. With 30 seconds to go, Billam-Smith clubbed Ramirez into the ropes, but they maintained the same ferocious tempo until the final bell. The Mexican fans in the crowd were already celebrating in anticipation of a Ramirez win.After the fight, Ramirez expressed his satisfaction. "I feel great… I'm a three-weight champion," he said. "I prepared for a tough guy. Me and my team have been preparing, we knew that he was a tough guy, he was a strong fighter. He was a champion. It was an honour for me to get the belt."Ramirez now turns his attention towards a blockbuster showdown with IBF world champion Jai Opetaia. Billam-Smith also showed respect for his opponent, saying, "It's a bit of irony. My initials are obviously CBS and I say consistency builds success and I think the consistency of 'Zurdo' was what won it for him. All respect to him. I've a huge amount of respect for him, always have done."Watch IBF welterweight champion Natasha Jonas take on WBC titlist Ivana Habazin at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre on December 14, live on Sky Sports.