“Albert Ramirez holds the interim world title, but Lerrone Richards has the notoriety and reputation of being one of the most avoided boxers in England,” said Eye of the Tiger president Camille Estephan. “Both have a lot to gain and a lot to lose, but we are confident that with a victory, Albert Ramirez’s name will be in all discussions for major fights with Bivol, Beterbiev, or Benavidez.”
The fight, set for June 4 at the Casino de Montreal, was originally scheduled for February before Ramirez was forced out less than 24 hours beforehand due to a medical issue. The Venezuelan returns with his interim WBA title intact and a chance to move himself closer to the division’s leading names.
Ramirez won the belt in August 2025, stopping Jerome Papellone in the seventh round, and remains unbeaten as he steps back into a title defense that now carries broader implications beyond the opponent in front of him.
Richards, a former world-level titleholder at super middleweight, enters as the WBA’s #9 contender after several months out of the ring following the initial cancellation. He has a reputation as one of the most avoided technicians in British boxing.
The 33-year-old Richardsons has already proven he can dismantle world class opposition, with wins over Carlos Gongora and Giovanni De Carolis. For Richards, the jump to light heavyweight is a calculated move to capture the interim strap and force his way into a mandatory position for the full WBA title.
“I am delighted to be back fighting at world level,” Richards said. “The cancellation of the fight was unfortunate, but I’m glad it has been rescheduled and looking forward to the encounter. The goal is about becoming interim champion and putting myself in position to become a WBA world champion at 175 pounds.”
A win for Ramirez is being positioned as the next step toward the top of the division, where Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, and David Benavidez remain the central figures.
Ramirez-Richards represents a crossroads for both men. For Richards, it’s a chance to reclaim world level status in a second weight class. For Ramirez, it’s about proving he belongs in the same breath as the division’s top fighters. With the WBA landscape constantly changing, the winner on June 4 will likely find themselves at the front of the line for a career-defining payday against the sport’s biggest names.
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