Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez vs Chris Billam-Smith live online, round by round, stats and updates Riyadh Season Latino Night

A huge left hand from Farmer lands clean and Zepeda is not happy about that at all. Zepeda is being forced to jab, to stick and move.

Zepeda wants to work in close and he backs Farmer onto the ropes, but it is difficult to get your shots away when Farmer grabs on and turns out of trouble.

Zepeda comes back with a great three punch combo and catches Farmer flush with a right hook on the chin.

The work rate has really been upped by Zepeda.

Both fighters are southpaws and they come out working in two different styles. Zepeda loves to work close and throw a lot of punches, while Farmer works better on the back foot as a counter puncher.

Farmer sticks that jab into Zepeda's snout and moves away to the right. Zepeda is trying to get his punches together but finding it hard to hit a slippery opponent.

A nice jab from Zepeda lands.

William Zepeda vs Tevin Farmer [lightweight]

Now a great showdown at lightweight as William Zepeda takes on former world champion Tevin Farmer. Mexico's Zepeda is 31-0 while the USA's Farmer is 33-6-1.

This bout is scheduled for ten rounds.

The stoppage

Huge statement!

The first knockdown

This is where the dam burst

That is the first time that Freshmart has ever been stopped, his first career loss and what a statement by Collazo!

Collazo wins by TKO

Freshmart is covering up and still looks shaky. Collazo catches him with a right hook and Freshmart goes down again! He is unsteady and in real bother here!

He beats the count and stays covered up and Collazo lands another huge right hook and Freshmart goes down again! The referee immediately waves the fight off! That is it!

Collazo is in control of the pace and Freshmart is waiting on that counter punch, and it eventually comes halfway through the round, as he delivers a stiff right hand. This induces Collazo to up his work rate and he begins to land solid body shots. As Freshmart comes in for a shot, Collazo times a perfect right hook that landed right on the chin! Freshmart goes down! He is shaken! Freshmart beats the count but is saved by the bell.

Collazo comes in with a two shot combo followed by a peach of a left uppercut. Freshmart tries to open up a little with his hands, but Collazo is outpunching him nearly two to one.

Winging in around the elbows, Collazo lands four nice hooks on Freshmart.

Freshmart comes forward and lands a nice right hand but looks all out of balance. Collazo comes forward and presses the issue and Freshmart invests in working the body while Collazo brings his work in closer, narrowing the range and the fight begins to heat up a bit more now.

Collazo is controlling the distance and pace of this fight well, keeping it at a distance and working that jab. Freshmart is trying to get involved but is more comfortable waiting for the counter shot and Collazo is unwilling to be baited.

Collazo ups his work rate, doubling up the jab and following with the right hand. Freshmart is put off a little, looking for that single shot and being forced onto the back foot.

In the final minute, Freshmart looks to have warmed into the fight and opens up with a nice three-punch combo.

Collazo come out working southpaw and Freshmart is working orthodox. They both probe each other, single jabs and circling the center of the ring.

The real battle in these southpaw/orthodox bouts is always about the front foot and they are both just working straight ahead, not really looking to focus on their footwork as yet.

The round ends as it began, with single shots, no flurries.

Oscar Collazo vs Thammanoon Niyomtrong [WBO minimumweight title]

Now a unification bout as Oscar Collazo takes on Thammanoon Niyomtrong, known professionally as Knockout CP Freshmart, for the WBO minimumweight title.

Puerto Rico's Collazo is 10-0 with seven KOs while Thailand's Freshmart is hugely experienced at 25-0 with nine KOs. This is a twelve-round contest.

Oscar de la Hoya

The mariachi costume?

Oscar Duarte wins by UD

The judges at ringside saw this as:

98-92

97-93

96-94

all for the winner by unanimous decision, Oscar Duarte. I won't argue it, but I feel that those cards are waaaaayyyy too wide.

I did not score that fight myself and I am unwilling to pick a winner. They both fought like warriors and it was soooooo close.

If I am pressed, I might lean EVER SO SLIGHTLY toward Akhmedov, but not enough to put my money where my mouth is.

The final round and this is as even as you can imagine. Whoever wins this round, could win the fight.

Akhmedov is mobile, moving around the ring with a little more purpose, and Duarte is having trouble cutting the ring off.

Duarte is continuing too throw shots but Akhmedov is more content to use his defense. They clinch with a minute to go and that, believe it or not, is the first clinch of the fight. They are broken apart by the referee and they go back to standing in the center of the ring and trading.

Duarte is now beginning to follow Akhmedov as he moves around to the left and that is neutralizing a lot of those shots from that hand. Akhmedov is still working at a higher rate, but Duarte is looking like he has perhaps a bit more of a second wind than his opponent.

They trade hooks, both landing and it draws a gasp of appreciation from the crowd. In the final ten seconds, Duarte opens up with his hands and lands a spectacular left hook.

Akhmedov comes out looking as if he had recomposed himself, but Duarte lands a right that buckles his knees for a moment. Both of these fighters revert to punching when they are hurt and this just starts off a frame of trading, Akhmedov trying to punch his way out of trouble and Duarte trying to make him pay for it. Neither will back down and this is another round of war fought at close range.

Duarte has renewed life in him and is back to throwing his hands freely. Akhmedov is still trying to stay mobile, but it feels more frantic now, less smooth.

Duarte lands a chopping right hand and another, and then another. He is staying on the front foot here and now it is Akhmedov who looks to be struggling for air, fighting with his mouth wide open.

Akhmedov is mobile at the start of this round, but Duarte is adding in that left hook to stop that movement to that side which is the natural movement of a southpaw fighter.

Duarte is showing signs of fatigue here. Akhmedov is dancing around but then out of nowhere a huge right hand from Duarte! And Akhmedov is hurt! That was a great moment as the round ended from Duarte! In a round that he was losing, he stamped some authority with a last second shot!

Neither man is willing to back down and so far it is a pick-em fight. They are almost mirror images of each other. Akhmedov is a little more active this round than Duarte and that might be the decider: work rate.

Duarte is not sitting around doing nothing though, he is answering shot for shot and they are hard, thumping blows. But Akhmedov is dictating the flow right now.

Duarte comes out like a rocket in the fourth and stuns Akhmedov briefly, but he recovers quickly and the war settles back into its normal state of attrition.

Akhmedov lands a nice left and Duarte answers back with a beautiful uppercut. They are just slugging away and there is no clear division between them.

For the first time in the fight, Duarte is able to back Akhmedov up in this opening minute, but the Uzbek uses Duarte's aggression against him, countering nicely with a great right hook and turning the tide somewhat. Akhmedov lands a huge one-two and Duarte stumbles backward.

There has yet to be a clinch in this bout. Both men are simply throwing hands when they get close.

Both men come out and meet in the center of the ring, both more open with their shots, letting their hands go a bit more. Akhmedov comes forward and Duarte trades back. They almost mirror each other in their shots and aggression.

Duarte lands a big left hook while Akhmedov answers back with a beautiful right uppercut to the body.

Akhmedov works southpaw which could create fireworks of its own, and Duarte is a bit wary of diving in there too quickly. They both meet in the middle of the ring and probe with the jabs, trying to find a way in.

A nice right hook from Akhmedov finds its way around Duarte's guard. The Mexican responds with a nice four-punch combo: left uppercut, right hook, overhand left, straight right.

Oscar Duarte vs Botirzhon Akhmedov [super lightweight]

This could be the best matchup of the undercard as Oscar Duarte takes on Botirzhon Akhmedov at super lightweight. Mexican-American Duarte is 27-2-1 while his opponent, Russian-Uzbek Akhmedov is 10-3-0.

This bout is scheduled to go ten rounds.

Was Garcia done dirty?

I kind of felt like he might have nicked it. Not mad at the draw but maybe a little harsh on Garcia.

Majority Draw

The judges at ringside saw the fight as:

58-56 Almaayouf

57-57 Draw

57-57 Draw

That was a majority draw and is probably a fair view of the fight.

This fight felt very even, and while I didn't score it myself, it was frustratingly 50-50. Zizo should have walked through that bout easily. Garcia is a tough nut to crack and he may have done enough.

And that in itself speaks volumes about both men.

The final round and Garcia still looks a little buzzed from that shot. His eyes are a little glazed. Zizo doesn't need to knock him out but he should stay on his wheels and jab away.

A great combination from Zizo finds its spot and he looks good for a moment, but he is too keen to trade with Garcia and he pays the price when a right hand from the Mexican lands flush.

Garcia jumps on the opportunity and peppers the Saudi. With a minute to go, it looks as if Zizo wakes up and gets back to work, landing some nice combinations of his own.

This fight has just about gotten away from Zizo here, and he needs to stop dropping rounds here. Right now.

He is fighting Garcia's fight and he needs to start dictating the fight himself. Going in close, allowing Garcia range to throw those chopping shots, is just unnecessary. Zizo needs to get back and work the jab. His corner is screaming at him to "Get out of there!" He needs to listen to them.

Zizo begins to back away and that opens up a gap where he lands a big left hook. He needs to do that more. Use your legs and the ring to your advantage.

A huge right cross from Zizo right on the bell looks to have Garcia buzzed. That was great.

Garcia is reverting to that Mexican style, marching forward, staying low, winging in wide shots, but they are landing. Zizo hasn't yet figured out that he needs to outbox Garcia rather than out punch him.

Zizo trys to get his jab working but Garcia is coming in close and trying to tie him up, landing a nice tap to the head before a left hook digs at his body.

A straight right hand splits Zizo's guard and catches him flush on the nose.

Garcia has grown in confidence and is beginning to break Zizo down. This is shocking really. Zizo was the heavy favorite coming into this fight.

Garcia lands a good one-two to set up another right hand, but Zizo responds with a lovely left hook that stops the attack. Another outstanding left hook snaps Garcia's head around. Garcia is stunned and Zizo lands another left hook! That is his money shot and he needs to work that more.

Garcia comes out throwing his hands, everything is coming in wide and trying to set up a big overhand right. Zizo stays compact and keeps his shots inside, but Garcia manages to land one of those overhand rights that he has been looking for.

Zizo gets back to his jab and slowing Garcia down. Just as he was looking like taking control, Garcia lands that right hand again! That was a big one!

Garcia comes in with an uppercut overhand right combo that lands flush right on the bell.

The fight gets underway with both working orthodox and Zizo throws some stiff jabs, spiteful shots, and working well off of that. He is not interested in covering up very much, but so far there is little need to. Garcia is coming straight forward and scrapping up close.

A big roundhouse right hook comes around Zizo's guard, that was a nice shot by Garcia.

Garcia begins to work the body as the round closes forcing Zizo to cover up more.

Ziyad Almaayouf vs Juan Garcia [welterweight]

The card is ready to get started with a welterweight contest between Ziyad Almaayouf and Juan Garcia. Almaayouf is a Saudi fighter with a 6-0 record and he is taking on Mexican fighter Garcia who is 5-6 professionally. This bout is scheduled for six rounds.

Minimumweight unification

As Oscar Collazo and Thammanoon Niyomtrong prepare to clash in the ring, fight fans are in for a showdown that promises to electrify Riyadh's Kingdom Arena. This bout isn't just about belts but also marks the unification of the WBA and WBO minimumweight titles, a chance for both fighters to etch their dominance in a historically competitive weight class​.

Collazo, the younger Puerto Rican fighter at 27, has built an impressive reputation since his pro debut in 2020. With a record of 10-0, including seven knockouts, he brings ferocity and a southpaw stance to the ring. His recent victory over Gerardo Zapata showcased his ability to outbox and outmaneuver opponents over the distance, proving that he's more than just a knockout artist. Each fight reveals his hunger and precision; victories over notable foes like Melvin Jerusalem, whom he stopped with a seventh-round TKO, have solidified his standing as the top-ranked minimumweight according to The Ring​.

In contrast, Thammanoon Niyomtrong, also known as Knockout CP Freshmart, boasts an unblemished record of 25-0. The 34-year-old from Thailand has defended his WBA title with steady confidence and tactical prowess. Niyomtrong's style may not be about flashy finishes - only nine of his wins come by knockout - but his ring IQ and experience, with over 200 professional rounds under his belt, make him a formidable challenge. His recent majority decision over Alex Winwood in September demonstrates that even after a brief layoff, he remains sharp and hard to beat.

Their clash represents more than just two undefeated champions vying for supremacy; it's a contrast of youth and experience, power versus finesse, and a stylistic mix of southpaw aggression against orthodox discipline. Collazo's reach advantage and younger legs may allow him to control the pace, but Niyomtrong's calm, measured approach and deep well of experience could make this a tactical chess match until the final bell​.

For fans, this fight is a reminder that even at 105 pounds, heart and skill can make for a spectacle as grand as any heavyweight clash. As the main event of an evening packed with top-tier fights, it is a testament to the vibrant talent in boxing's lighter divisions.

El Zurdo

I want to be a legend.

No gentleman in the ring

I don't fight like a gentleman.

It's go time

No more smiles

The Full Card

Gilberto Ramirez vs Chris Billam-Smith [WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles]
Jose Ramirez vs Arnold Barbosa Jr [super lightweight]
Oscar Collazo vs Thammanoon Niyomtrong [WBO minimumweight title]
William Zepeda vs Tevin Farmer [lightweight]
Oscar Duarte vs Botirzhon Akhmedov [super lightweight]
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Juan Garcia [welterweight]

The main undercard is set to get underway at 12pm ET / 9am PT.

Tale of the tape

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez
Current WBA Cruiserweight World Champion
Age: 33
Country: Mexico
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 6ft 2.5in
Reach: 75”
Record: 46-1-0

Chris Billam-Smith
Current WBO Cruiserweight World Champion
Age: 34
Country: United Kingdom
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6ft 3in
Reach: 75”
Record: 20-1-0

WELCOME!!!

Welcome to Diario AS USA’s live coverage of Riyadh Season’s much anticipated Latino Night, headlined by the cruiserweight unification bout between Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith from the Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The sands of Riyadh are ready to rumble once more, but this time under the banner of Latino pride. Saturday’s Riyadh Season Latino Night is more than just another glitzy chapter in Saudi Arabia’s boxing experiment - it's a celebration of Latin American fighters who carry not just skills, but centuries of culture and passion into the ring. The organizers, already known for pushing boundaries in the sport, have partnered with Golden Boy Promotions to bring this unique showcase to the global stage. Latin warriors under the bright lights and searing pressure of Saudi Arabia - this is what it looks like when the stakes of boxing meet the rhythms of Latino heritage.

Tonight’s main event is a clash of styles and a battle for cruiserweight supremacy. Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, a towering presence in the ring with an impressive 46-1 record, takes center stage. The Mexican fighter, whose fists have silenced 30 opponents by knockout, steps into this bout with fire. Ramirez may have tasted defeat once, courtesy of Dmitry Bivol in a bruising light-heavyweight contest, but he returns with a determination forged from lessons learned. Ramirez knows what’s at stake. “I’m really excited to be here, to be a part of the Latino night,” he says, brimming with purpose. “I will become the first Mexican cruiserweight unified champion. It’s exciting because my dream will come true [tonight].”

His opponent, the rugged and unrelenting Chris Billam-Smith, is not one for fairytale endings that don’t star him. The WBO cruiserweight champion and Boxxer fighter hails from the UK but comes to Riyadh ready to spoil the Latino fiesta. “This opportunity for me is huge,” Billam-Smith declares. "I’ve been written off many times before... I was going into [Riakporhe's] backyard... and I went and spoiled the party." His confidence isn’t just talk; it’s experience. When Billam-Smith steps into the ring, he brings a career forged in tough bouts and hard-fought victories. On a night meant for Latin triumph, he plans to crash the celebrations with his own gloves.

Yet, tonight's show isn't only about the main event. An all-Latino undercard sets the tone for the evening, each bout promising fire and flair. These undercard fights matter; they carry a weight that goes beyond wins and losses. For many fighters, this is their moment to prove themselves on a massive stage, in front of a global audience. Young prospects, battle-hardened veterans, and rising stars - each of them walks to the ring bearing stories of sacrifice, hope, and ambition, stories that are echoed by their fans across continents. From Mexico to Argentina, Puerto Rico to Colombia, the flags will wave, and the chants will roar.

In a sport so often fractured by national divides and promotional skirmishes, Riyadh Season Latino Night brings a unifying element: Latin identity under the spotlight. Fighters like Ramirez and the warriors on the undercard carry a collective pride. They step into the ring not just as individuals but as symbols of their communities, their families, and their nations.

As the night unfolds in Saudi Arabia, boxing fans around the globe will tune in to see the punches fly and dreams realized or shattered. In the end, it’s more than a fight - it’s a celebration of everything that makes boxing a brutal, beautiful dance.