Jose Ramirez Is Primed To Face Josh Taylor Next!
In an ESPN interview with Mark Kriegler prior to his fourth defense of the WBC title and his first as a unified champion with a narrow victory over former champ Viktor Postol, Jose Ramirez (26-0, 17KO) talked about the next task at hand.
Ramirez also spoke about how he feels underrated as a champion. This has motivated him to become the next undisputed champion at junior welterweight since Terence Crawford in 2018.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HISTORY
In February 2007, the IBF became the last of the three major sanctioning bodies to recognize the WBO as a major organization. With this, the requirement to become an undisputed champion shifted to holding four belts.
Since, there have only been four undisputed champion in boxing since this shift. Former middleweights Jermaine Taylor and Bernard Hopkins. Current WBO welterweight champ Terence Crawford and more recent, former cruiserweight now heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk.
If Ramirez is able to obtain this feat, he will be the fifth undisputed champion of the four-belt era. Additionally, he will be the first Mexican to accomplish this within the four-belt era. But a very stiff task stands in his way in the other unified champion in the division, Josh “Tartan Tornado” Taylor (16-0, 12KO).
A TOUGH ASSIGNMENT AHEAD
Taylor has been cruising through the junior welterweight division with quality wins along the way. Names like Ohara Davies, former WBC lightweight champion Miguel Vasquez, former IBF champ Ivan Baranchyk, former WBA champ Regis Prograis and a common opponent in Postol make-up just a sixteen fight resume.
After defeating the favorite in Prograis to win the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) tournament in October of 2019, many fans see Taylor as the best fighter in the division.
However, the excellent resume of the heavily talented Scottish fighter will not deter Ramirez from attempting to achieve his goals. He is even open to facing Taylor in his home country!
“I would jump at the opportunity to fight Josh Taylor in Scotland. I would make him respect me more than I would respect him.”
First, Taylor must defeat his IBF mandatory in Thailand’s Apinun Khongsong (16-0, 13KO) September 26. If he does what is expected, it looks like there should be no problem making the fight to find he next undisputed champion!
By: EJ Williams
