World cruiserweight boxing champion Gilberto Ramirez will be sidelined indefinitely after undergoing shoulder surgery for an injury suffered in a victory last month, his promoters announced on Sunday.
The 34-year-old Mexican southpaw underwent a successful operation on Saturday, Golden Boy Promotions said without disclosing which shoulder went under the knife.
The injury came in a unanimous 12-round decision over Cuban Yuniel Dorticos, a former world champion, on 28 June at Anaheim.
"After getting three medical opinions and a lot of thinking, I've decided to undergo my shoulder surgery," Ramirez said in a statement.
"I've been dealing with this injury since my last fight and pushing through it just isn't the smart move for my health or my career. Surgery isn’t something any fighter wants to hear, but this is the right call to make sure I heal properly and come back at 100 per cent.
"I'll be out of the ring healing until I'm cleared by my medical team, but I'm already locked in on therapy and the road back.
"I'll be back stronger, sharper and hungrier than ever."
Ramirez, 47-1 with 30 knockouts, took the World Boxing Association crown in March 2024 by unanimous decision over Armenian-born Frenchman Arsen Goulamirian.
He then won the World Boxing Organisation cruiserweight title last November in Saudi Arabia by unanimous decision over England's Chris Billam-Smith.