A Wild (Card) night in Long Beach, CA. on March 18

It is indeed going to be a Wild (Card) night in Long Beach, California on March 18th.

Hollywood, California’s legendary Wild Card Boxing Club will certainly be in the house, or The Pyramid in this case, on March 18th. Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach sees his veteran warrior Gabe Rosado (26-16-1, 15 KOs) in against former world 168-pound champ Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs). Rosado is making his debut at 175 pounds while Ramirez looks to get back in the on-deck circle for a championship title fight. 

The two fighters will be in the main event at the Walter Pyramid on the campus of Long Beach (CA) State University.

Fellow Wild Card trainer Marvin Somodio slots his charge into the semi-main event when former world title challenger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (33-3-3, 17 KO’s) tangles with former world champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr. (32-3-1, 15 KO’s).

The card will be broadcast on the DAZN network. 

While Roach’s fighter Rosado is perceived as the underdog going into the main event, giving away weight and age, he refuses to see it that way. He is excited to test the waters at 175 pounds and at his age is looking forward to the less arduous weight cut, 7 pounds north of his usual 168 pounds. 

While Ramirez will certainly be the largest fighter “King” Gabe has faced, this certainly won’t rattle the experienced Philadelphia native who has been in the ring with Kassim Ouma, Alfredo Angulo, Jesus Soto Karass, Gennadiy Golovkin, Peter Quillin, Jermell Charlo, David Lemieux, Joshua Clottey, Daniel Jacobs, and Jaime Munguia, to name a few.

The 17-year veteran is getting great gym work from Freddie Roach and is excited to test himself against Ramirez, whom he is familiar with having sparred many rounds with him in the past. 

In recent interviews, Rosado made it clear that he is coming to win and plans to make the most of the opportunity.

“I’m excited to start the year off with a bang! I have a great deal of respect for Zurdo Ramírez. We’re friends, But come March 18, it’s all business,” said Rosado. “This is the kind of fight Gabriel Rosado shows up for. I will not let myself or the fans down.

Having dropped 6 of his last 10 fights, and winless in his last 3, many fighters would want to throw in the towel. But, that isn’t how Rosado rolls. He knows boxing will have its peaks and valleys. He doesn’t see frustration; he sees motivation.

  “My career is like life. Life has ups and downs. I really be looking at my career like life. Can you imagine like in life, when things get hard, you let that defeat you? You ain’t never gonna make nothing out of your life.” 

On the undercard, Joseph Diaz, returning after an October loss, is looking to get back in line for another world title shot. In a recent interview he was confident but knows that he has a tough assignment in Gesta.

“I am ready to come back and show fans that I still have what it takes to be at the top,” said Diaz. “Mercito Gesta is no easy foe, but I am sure we’re going to put on a great show on March 18”.

Gesta, who knows a win in this fight would be huge for him, was eagerly anticipating the first bell. 

“I continue to train with my dad, Anecito Gesta, my coach, Marvin Somodio, and my team. I will be ready for the challenge. You will see two hungry warriors in the ring, and we will put on a great show for the fans around the world”, he said. “I can’t wait for the opening bell.”