ANAHEIM, California — Gilberto Ramirez rarely dazzles anyone when he fights. He simply works hard, takes what his opponent throws at him and stays the course.

That formula has earned the 34-year-old Mexican major titles in two divisions. And it worked again against Yuniel Dorticos on the Jake Paul-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. card at Honda Center on Saturday night.

“Zurdo” got off to a slow start, made adjustments and went on to win a unanimous decision that allowed him to retain his WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles.

He said he simply “followed my plan.”

“My opponent was tough,” Ramirez said in English. “I just did what I did, my job. That’s it.”

Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) endured the worst night of his career in November 2022, when he dropped a one-sided decision to WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.

However, the skillful former super middleweight titleholder, who had never tasted defeat, bounced back well after moving up to cruiserweight. He easily outpointed former champ Joe Smith Jr. 10 months later, did the same to Arsen Goulamirian to win the WBA title last year and added the WBO belt by defeating Chris Billam-Smith by a unanimous decision in November.

Dorticos (27-3, 25 KOs), a former IBF titleholder, is nothing like those three fighters, though.

The strapping 39-year-old Cuban was a star in one of the best amateur systems and brought that success to the pros, where he also became known as a big puncher. That’s what Ramirez was up against.

Dorticos had Ramirez on his heels in the first several rounds, walking him down and shoving him into the ropes on a number of occasions. That’s where the challenger did his most damage, landing many punishing shots.

And even when Ramirez realized he needed to avoid the ropes, Dorticos often got the better of exchanges in the middle of the ring. At least until the sixth or seventh round.

That’s when Ramirez began to assert himself more than he had, often beating his opponent to the punch, letting his hands go more often and landing the cleaner shots in the second half of the fight. Dorticos still had good moments, but Ramirez had taken control.

Things got ugly in Round 10. Dorticos had been warned twice for low blows yet inexplicably threw a series of them, which cost him a point, perhaps a sign that he was tired or frustrated … or both.

Ramirez continued to dictate the pace in the final two rounds, staying busier than the challenger, landing more eye-catching punches and not taking many clean shots in return.

When the final bell sounded, it seemed as if Ramirez had done more than enough to retain his titles. And that’s how judges saw it. Two scored it 115-112 (seven rounds to five) while the third had it 117-110.

Ramirez’s next challenge could be much tougher.

He was asked whether he has his sights set on IBF titleholder Jai Opetaia, a gifted all-around fighter and rising star from Australia. He answered in the affirmative.

“Is that the fight?” he was asked.

“Yeah, that’s the fight I want,” he responded. “I’m the king.”

“What message do you have for him?”

“Make sure you get my phone [number] and call me,” he said. “And be ready.”