Zurdo Ramirez WBA purse bid delayed

By Declan Taylor

THE purse bid for the world championship showdown between Gilberto Ramirez and Yuniel Dorticos has been delayed, the WBA have confirmed.

The bid was supposed to take place today [TUES] after the WBA ordered their cruiserweight champion Ramirez to defend against the big-punching Cuban.

However, with the two sides supposedly close to agreeing a deal without a bid, the WBA granted a 10-day extension to the negotiation period. They too are hopeful of a resolution having first assigned a 30-day negotiation period for the fight back on July 1.

The statement read: “The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee approved the request to extend the negotiation period.

 “This Tuesday, August 27, the auction for the fight was due to take place. At the request of the parties, the WBA gave permission for them to continue negotiating and reach an agreement.

“The Committee will monitor all talks and hopes that in the next few days there will be good news regarding the agreement for the fight.”

Ramirez won the belt via a unanimous decision against Arsen Goulamirian on March 30 to secure a world title in a second division. Now his first defence will be against the 27-2 (25) Dorticos, who has boxed just once in the past 20 months, a one-round blow-out against Alan Campa in June.