When a two-time gold medalist hits the open market, and the “Big Four” don’t pull the trigger. Raizd Boxing is essentially a ghost ship right now. They are so new they haven’t even held their first event yet.
As for why the giants stayed away, it probably comes down to a mix of timing, shelf life and the current business change many of these companies are making.
At 126 pounds, 32 is on the older side. Promoters are notoriously wary of small fighters who have just suffered a career-altering layoff. They might prefer to wait and see if he has anything left before committing to a multi-fight, high-dollar contract.
While Dana White is finally making moves, Zuffa has been aggressive with younger, hype-heavy talent like Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins. Ramirez is 32 and coming off a brutal knockout loss to Rafael Espinoza in December. Zuffa may consider him a damaged goods veteran rather than a foundation for their launch.
Ramirez may not carry the same glamor he did when he defected from Cuba or when he beat Shakur Stevenson in the amateurs, but fighters with that kind of background rarely hit the open market.
His recent form probably played a part. Ramirez is 14-3 with nine knockouts and has lost two of his last three fights, both losses to Rafael Espinoza, including a stoppage in their rematch. At 32, he is no longer a long-term project that can be developed slowly.
Still, there is a clear upside if handled correctly. Ramirez remains a skilled southpaw with pedigree, experience and enough name value to quickly become relevant again at featherweight or beyond. If he puts together wins, bigger promoters may regret allowing a startup, Raizd, to make the first move.
