Lerrone Richards controversially decisioned by Albert Ramirez in WBA Interim title clash

Albert Ramirez wins WBA Interim title with Lerrone Richards split-decision result

Unbeaten Venezuelan Albert Ramirez (23-0, 19 KOs) narrowly defeated British boxer Lerrone Richards (19-2, 4 KOs) at the Casino de Montréal in Canada on June 4.

'Sniper the Boss' from New Malden won 116-112 on one scorecards, but was given 115-113 against on the other two, falling to his second pro career defeat.

Both boxers had their arms held high at the end, believing they had done enough.

The home fighter, Albert Ramirez, was frustrated by Richards' awkward style all night long. The English southpaw is known for his technical ability over his punch power, but he managed to catch Ramirez with some big shots. More than a few straight one-twos down the middle of the guard had Venezuelan looking hurt and holding on.

Richards looked a little rusty early on, but he was also making Ramirez struggle and had trouble hiding his frustration.

Richards, meanwhile, was just doing what he always does. Ramirez did not perform well in the clinches with Richards, who was able to tie him up inside, further making things uncomfortable.

During other portions, Ramirez seemed to be pressing too hard, trying to head-hunt too much, showing impatience and ill-discipline

It wasn't a dominant performance by Richards, ad Ramirez had his moments, and each one banked rounds, but the visitor did exactly what he is good at - spoiling, frustrating, making everything as awkward as possible, which is perhaps why he has been largely inactive because no one wants to fight against that and crowds aren't rushing to see those kind of fights.

Some spectators feel that the Brit was hard done by on the cards.

Scott Christ from Bad Left Hook said, "I think he [Lerrone Richards] deserved the win. He’ll feel he deserved the win. But he didn’t get it, and because he’s still the same old Lerrone Richards, he probably will find it tough to get another fight of significance. Albert Ramirez, meanwhile, will hope to play his trade against someone a little less annoying to fight next time out, his “0” intact and a paper title — a fairly important one, but one that needn’t exist all the same — over his shoulder."

Now 33, the former IBO World super-middleweight champion, Richards, has lost two from his last three, and has only managed to fight once per year between 2024-2026. His future in boxing appears a little uncertain.

In the co-main event, Olympic medalist and dangerous Chechen puncher Imam Khataev defended his NABF light-heavyweight title against hard-hitting Mickael Diallo via first-round TKO.

Two-time Olympian Dzmitry Asanau stopped former world champion Roger Gutierrez in six.

Continental champion Jhon Orobio stopped American Jonathan Montrel in the fourth.

There were also wins for undefeated prospect Avery Martin Duval, Canadian Olympic medalist Wyatt Sanford, EOTTM newcomer Keven Beausejour, as well as Montreal’s Nickenson Denis.