The sights of the boxing world have homed in; there’s only one fight in view—the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. The reigning unified champion and the former titleholder will reunite for another thrilling clash of fists. Before the two heavyweights collide in the headliner, there’s a big undercard in play at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena tomorrow. One of the matches features a ten-round showdown between Andrii Novytskyi and Edgar Ramirez.

The duo will fight for Novytskyi’s WBC international title. Given neither currently appears in the top fifteen rankings of the four sanctioning bodies, it’s a crucial turnout for both the fighters. A win could help break into that milestone. In addition to the Novytskyi-Ramirez clash, the Fury-Usyk undercard, which has otherwise come under intense scrutiny, features an array of exciting fights. So let’s review how the fight between Novytskyi and Ramirez could play out tomorrow.

Andrii Novytskyi vs. Edgar Ramirez: A Battle of Physical Dimensions

Born on July 4, 1995, in Odesa, Ukraine, 29-year-old Andrii Novytskyi is just a few months older than Edgar Ramirez, who was born on April 20 in Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico. In terms of physical attributes, Novytskyi, also known by his moniker ‘Rampage’, stands at an imposing 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm). While his reach is currently undisclosed, he clearly holds a height advantage over Ramirez, who stands 6 feet 1 1/2 inches (187 cm) tall and has a reach of 76 inches (193 cm).

Three months ago, Andrii Novytskyi fought Shawn Laughery. During the weigh-ins, he hit the scales at 244 pounds. Edgar Ramirez, whose last fight occurred in March against fellow Mexican Luis Pascual, weighed about 246 pounds.

It’s been just 22 months since Andrii Novytskyi began his professional career. In a short span of time, he has accumulated an enviable record of 13 fights, winning all. Given ten of those victories came via knockouts, Novytskyi’s knockout-to-win rate stands at a commendable 77%. Though he started his professional journey eight years ago, Edgar Ramirez’s career features noticeable breaks. Nevertheless, he remains a twelve-fight veteran, out of which he lost one and another ended in a draw. Only 40% of wins were early stoppages.

Head-to-Head Prediction: Who Holds the Edge?

Andrii Novytskyi stands as the clear favorite against Edgar Ramirez, with commanding odds of nearly -2000 in his favor. In contrast, the Mexican heavyweight enters the ring as a significant underdog at +1180.

The most plausible reason behind this skewed preference could be attributed to the Ukrainian fighter’s formidable record and output. Since his debut on February 18 last year, Andrii Novytskyi has stepped into the ring for an unheard-of eight times! This year itself, with the Ramirez bout, he will be marking a sixth appearance. Then one has to consider the manner in which he secured the wins. Before the Laughery fight, where he went the distance, he knocked out Keith Rydell Mayes Jr. in the first round to grab the vacant WBC international title.

Edgar Ramirez’s predicament stems from his inconsistent record. His sole loss occurred in 2016, way back when he began his career. Nevertheless, after his third bout against Israel Huerta, he vanished from the scene, returning three years later—only to disappear again for another two years. However, from 2021, he has been fighting at a consistent rate.

Ramirez secured the vacant WBC Latino heavyweight title late in March this year. However, one may as well note that including the bout against Pascual, the previous two fights ended in split/majority decision outcomes. Then there’s the experience and exposure issue.

It will be the second time Novytskyi will be fighting at the Kingdom Arena. On March 8, during the Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou undercard, he faced Juan Torres on the undercard. For Edgar Ramirez, this will be both his first fight outside the United States or Mexico and his first ten-round bout.

Factors That Could Decide the Fight

When Andrii Novytskyi first steps into the ring, what impresses most is his power and physically imposing presence. Surprisingly, for a heavyweight, he is light on his feet. He embodies the typical hallmarks of the former Soviet Union/Eastern European style: linear movements and probing jabs. As he maneuvers around his opponent, Novytskyi throws circular jabs to keep them guessing, setting up a straight right—like the one he landed against Mayes Jr.—to send them crashing to the canvas.

In contrast, Edgar Ramirez employed a more measured strategy, as seen in his fight against Rashad Coulter last February. While he remains vulnerable to being trapped against the ropes, he demonstrates solid defense that could help neutralize the power of the Ukrainian’s attack.

Andrii Novytskyi may not have as easy a ride as some might expect. Against Edgar Ramirez, he can expect tough rounds that could go the distance.

What are your thoughts? Alongside Moses Itauma and Guido Vianello, is Andrii Novytskyi one of the top prospects to watch in the heavyweight division?