Lerrone Richards takes on unbeaten WBA Interim champion in Montreal main event
Lerrone Richards faces unbeaten champion in Canada
WBA #10 Lerrone Richards (19-1, 4 KOs) takes on unbeaten WBA Interim champion Albert Ramirez (22-0, 19 KOs) in Montreal, Canada on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
The light-heavyweights will occupy the main event of the Eye of the Tiger show hosted at the the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal in Quebec, Canada.
In August 2025, Albert Ramirez captured the WBA Interim light-heavyweight crown by stopping the WBA #9 Jerome Pampellone in the seventh round of a DAZN-broadcast fight held in Benghazi, Libya.
This victory capped off a spectacular year for the Rio 2016 Olympian, who had also stopped Asian champion Michael Flannery and Croatian contender Marko Calic in rounds 3 and 2, respectively.
With David Benavidez moving up to the cruiserweight division (200lbs), 33-year-old Ramirez intends to prove he is the man to beat at 175lbs.
“We have no doubt that Albert Ramirez has everything it takes to collect several more belts. From his very first world title defense, we intend to send a clear message to the light-heavyweight division — and with the opponent we’ll be announcing shortly, I can assure you that message will be heard,” stated EOTTM president Camille Estephan.
“After winning this belt far from home, in Libya, I feel privileged to be able to defend it in Montreal, where I feel at home and where boxing fans always welcome me as such,” said Interim world champion Albert Ramirez.
Undercard
Several other titles will also be on the line on the undercard.
Two-time Olympian and WBC Continental Americas and IBF Intercontinental lightweight champion Dzmitry Asanau (11-0, 5 KOs) will defend his titles that same night.
Canadian Olympian and top-10 world super-lightweight contender Arthur Biyarslanov (20-0, 16 KOs) will make the 5th defence of his NABF title.
Montreal-based Rio Olympian and top-15 world light-heavyweight contender Mehmet Unal (14-0, 12 KOs) will return to defend his WBC Continental Americas belt.
A fifth Olympian will also fight on the card, as Canadian medalist Wyatt Sanford (5-0, 2 KOs) will be in action at the Casino de Montréal.
The pride of Thetford Mines, Thomas Chabot (11-1, 8 KOs), will try to get back on the winning track.
And, opening the show, EOTTM prospect Erik Israyelyan (4-0, 2 KOs) will aim to start the year with a strong performance.
Who is Lerrone Richards?
Lerrone 'Sniper the Boss' Richards is 33 from southwest London. He is a former IBO world super-middleweight champion, who has also collected WBO European, Commonwealth, British, European super-middleweight titles too.
Despite winning the EBU and the IBO belts in a highly successful 2021, the stylish southpaw has had difficulties securing fights, due to promotional issues.
In his sole career defeat, he was caught cold in a surprise upset by fellow Brit, Steed Woodall. 'The Stallion' from Birmingham managed to knock Richards out in the sixth round after Lerrone had walked onto a huge counter backhand right.
He has since bounced back with a routine six-round points win over a journeyman in September 2029.
He is now ranked WBA #10.
Who is Albert Ramirez?
Albert Ramon Ramirez Duran is 33 from El Vigia, Venezuela. He made his pro debut in June 2018 after competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games - he won his first pro fight in just 79 seconds.
He then went on to win his first 11 bouts by knockout. He won his first title - the WBC FECARBOX light-heavyweight title in his 13th fight in April 2022.
He went on to win WBO Global title at cruiserweight, but his crowning glory was claiming the WBA Interim 175lbs title in his last fight last August.
Tickets for the February 5 event, held at the Casino de Montréal and broadcast on Punching Grace starting at 6:30 p.m., are on sale now through Ticketmaster HERE
