OFFICIAL: Albert Ramirez Set for WBA World Title Defense in Canada
- Factor Combate
- 34 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Albert Ramirez, the reigning WBA Interim World Light Heavyweight Champion, is heading back to the squared circle. The undefeated native of El Vigía, Mérida, is slated to defend his 175-pound strap against Britain’s Lerrone Richards on Saturday, June 4, at the Montreal Casino in Quebec, Canada.
The Venezuelan powerhouse has already ignited his training camp in Medellín, Colombia. In the coming days, he is expected to fly to France to finalize his preparations and log crucial sparring rounds.
A Long-Awaited Rescheduling
This matchup was originally penciled in for February 5 on Canadian soil. However, the assignment was scrapped just hours before the weigh-in after Ramirez suffered a sudden medical emergency.
The former Caciques de Venezuela standout arrived in Canada on January 31, traveling from France to acclimate to the biting Quebec winter while putting the finishing touches on his weight cut. According to Ramirez, he felt in peak physical condition and fully locked in with his corner right up until the incident.
The crisis hit at 2:00 AM on Wednesday, February 4. Ramirez was jolted awake by an acute, debilitating pain that left him unable to move. His team immediately summoned medical assistance, who managed to stabilize him briefly. However, by 4:00 AM, the pain returned with redoubled intensity. Ramirez was rushed to a nearby emergency room, where he remained hospitalized until February 6.
Initial diagnoses pointed toward acute appendicitis. However, subsequent testing repeatedly indicated a severe case of systemic intoxication, though the exact source remains undetermined.
Albert Ramírez for the Upset
Albert Ramón Ramirez enters this bout riding the momentum of the biggest win of his career. At the WBA "Knockout to Drugs" gala in Libya, he dismantled British contender Jerome Pampellone, ending the night with a clinical seventh-round stoppage.
Ramirez’s 2024 campaign was a statement of intent. He began the year by capturing the WBA International belt via a unanimous decision over Artur Ziyatdinov in Canada. He followed that up in August with a dominant homecoming performance, stopping the veteran Adam Deines in seven rounds. His trail of destruction also includes early-round knockouts of Michael Alan Flannery and Marko Calic.
The 33-year-old Southpaw (22-0, 18 KOs) boasts a formidable 81% knockout ratio, having stopped four of his last five opponents.
Richards Looking for the Upset
In the opposite corner stands Lerrone Richards The Carshalton, Surrey native has been relatively inactive of late. His 2025 ledger shows only a stay-busy unanimous decision win over Dylan Courtney in September. This followed a setback in June 2024, where he suffered a sixth-round knockout loss at the hands of Steed Woodall.
Richards (19-1, 4 KOs) is a slick operator but lacks the raw power of the champion. This bout marks the first time the Brit will compete outside of Europe. For Richards, it is a high-stakes "do or die" opportunity to crash the world rankings; for Ramirez, it’s about proving he belongs at the very top of the light heavyweight elite.
