Jesse Hart: Gilberto Ramirez needs to focus on winning basic in title bout with Arthur Abraham

Gilberto Ramirez can become the first fighter from Mexico to win a super-middleweight world title Saturday when he meets Germany’s Arthur Abraham on the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley undercard at MGM Grand.

Doing so, says Jesse Hart, Ramirez’s fellow super-middleweight stablemate at Top Rank Inc., could very well require Ramirez to stop trying to live up to the legacy of Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

“His mind sometimes, he won’t box. He wants to carry his tradition of Mexico, to go in and fight,” Hart said. “If you can win basic and simple and easy, go do it that way.

“Everyone wants to carry on that Chavez tradition. When [Ramirez] has height like that [6-foot-2 1/2], leave Chavez where he’s at. Everyone wants to carry that. He wants that glory from the Mexican fans. But don’t get caught up in that; don’t give Arthur Abraham a chance.”

The 5-foot-9, 36-year-old Abraham (44-4, 29 knockouts) is defending his World Boxing Organization title for the sixth time when he meets the 24-year-old Ramirez (33-0, 24 KOs), who lives in Mazatlan, Mexico, and trains in Carson.

“I’m really confident after all my preparations,” Ramirez said, pointing to his youth and a plan to stay more active throwing punches than the deliberate Abraham. “We know what we need to do in the ring. We need to bring more fight, keep busy and win every single round.

“I’m confident. I’m dreaming all the time of the moment the announcer calls my name and says, ‘And the new … .’ ”

Philadelphia’s Hart (20-0, 16 KOs), coming off a March 18 unanimous-decision victory, is next in line to fight the winner, but he admits he’s rooting for Ramirez because both fight for Top Rank and negotiations likely would run smoother.

“The kid is young. All he has to do is drive the car. Don’t get caught up in the lights and the glamour of it all,” Hart said. “Get caught up in the honing of your craft. Win the fight. Being the champion of the world is enough, nothing more or less.”

Hart has great respect for the rugged Abraham, recalling the 2008 fight against Edison Miranda when Abraham overcame a broken jaw to win, and in 2009, when he rallied in the 12th round to knock out former world-champion Jermain Taylor.

“We all know what he did with Jermain Taylor. … We all know what he did with Edison Miranda,” Hart said. “He’s a hard man. You don’t want to have to engage with that man at no point if you don’t have to.”

Ramirez should focus instead on winning the belt, relishing the honor of being that first super-middleweight champion from Mexico, Hart said.

“Don’t discount Arthur Abraham, a great veteran who can punch with both hands,” Hart said. “For [Ramirez] to bring a belt back to the stable, that’s a plus for everybody.”