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GILBERTO RAMIREZ: "I AM LOOKING FOR UNIFICATION FIGHTS...LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN"

By Press Release | June 20, 2018
GILBERTO RAMIREZ:

Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez and Alex "El Cholo" Saucedo showcased their skills for the media Tuesday at Hill Street Boxing Gym as they finalize preparations for their respective nationally televised bouts, June 30 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.

In the main event, Ramirez (37-0, 25 KOs) will defend the WBO super middleweight title against unbeaten Colombian challenger Alexis Angulo (23-0, 20 KOs), while Oklahoma City native Saucedo (27-0, 17 KOs) will face Australian puncher Lenny Zappavigna (37-3, 27 KOs) for the WBO International super lightweight title.

Ramirez-Angulo and Saucedo-Zappavigna will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 9 p.m. ET. Undercard action, including appearances by 2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao, female fighting sensation Mikaela Mayer, and heavyweight knockout artist Trey Lippe Morrison, will be broadcast on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets to this world championship extravaganza are ON SALE NOW. Priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, not including facility and service fees, tickets may be purchased at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

This is what the fighters had to say.

Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez

On Alexis Angulo

"We've seen a couple of tapes. He's a big puncher. He has a good record, and I have been preparing very hard for him. I've been doing a lot of sparring with different guys, and I'm ready to put on a great performance for Oklahoma City and the people watching on ESPN."

"He'a dangerous fighter because we don't know what he brings. Like I said, I prepared really well for this fight. We don't know what kind of strategy he brings to the ring, so we're preparing with different styles."

On the super middleweight division

"I am looking for unification fights. That's what I want. But first things first. We have a tough fight with Angulo, and after that, we are looking at any of those fighters. Let's do it. Let's make it happen."

On being active after a long layoff

"For me, being more active is helpful. I like fighting three or four times a year. It makes me feel good and motivated. If you don't fight enough, it hurts you in the ring." 

Alex "El Cholo" Saucedo

On Lenny Zappavigna

"Lenny is an aggressive fighter and I am as well. We both have great knockout percentages, so it's going to be a great fight for Oklahoma City. I'm ready."

On Oklahoma City

"I want to give all my people back home a great event. We have ESPN and Top Rank coming through. It's going to be a special night for the city, and I am proud to represent my people. I want everyone to come out and support this event. If everything goes well, we'll be back with bigger things."

"I wanted to bring a tough fight to the city, so they could see that we're ready to move on to bigger things. It's going to be a tough fight, but I believe I'm ready to put him out of there as well."

"I was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. I came to Oklahoma City when I was 7 years old. I started third grade in Oklahoma City, and I've been there ever since. Everyone watched me as an amateur fighter, as a professional fighter. Now they have the opportunity to see me fight on ESPN, at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, on one of the biggest boxing events in Oklahoma. I'm really motivated about and excited to give everyone a show."

On a future title shot

"There are two guys with belts, Jose Ramirez and Maurice Hooker, who I'd love to fight. But right now, I need to worry about June 30."

On his preparation

"I felt great in sparring. I feel like my trainer {Abel Sanchez} and I worked on everything we wanted to."  

For more information visit:  www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook:facebook.com/trboxin, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/espndeportes;Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo, @ESPNDeportes. Use the hashtags #ZurdoAngulo and #SaucedoZappavigna to join the conversation on social media.

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