Ramirez downs Abraham to take WBO crown

Gilberto Ramirez became the first Mexican fighter ever to hold a super middleweight world title after dominating champion Arthur Abraham of Germany to claim a unanimous points victory.

Ramirez was awarded the win by emphatic margins of 120-108 on all three judges' cards to take the World Boxing Organization title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The undefeated 24-year-old from Mazatlan used his superior reach and mobility to attack Abraham from all angles, scoring freely in the early rounds with a series of stinging jabs.

Ramirez rocked Abraham in the second with a thunderous right hook that sent the German careering off balance across the ring.

The skilful Mexican continued his dominance in the third round, tagging Abraham with another solid right hook, this time to the body.

Abraham rallied briefly towards the fourth round and the two fighters engaged in a frenzied exchange of blows as the bell sounded.

But Abraham struggled to build on that momentum and was again kept at bay by his more mobile opponent, who was content to duck in and out of range landing blows seemingly at will.

That strategy was more than enough to see Ramirez home to victory in the later rounds as Abraham wearily trailed the Mexican around the ring.
Source: AFP