Is Jose Ramirez Serious About Making a Fight With Regis Prograis?
Fighting in front of an adoring hometown crowd in Fresno, California, former unified junior welterweight champion Jose Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) stopped former IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey in eleven rounds. This fight was a WBC junior welterweight title eliminator. In theory, Ramirez is on a direct path to a shot at WBC 140 pound champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (28-1, 14 KOs.)
WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
Will a match-up between Prograis and Ramirez take place? In July 2022, the WBC ordered them to fight for the then-vacant WBC title. Ramirez opted out because the timeline conflicted with his upcoming wedding. Prograis went on to stop Jose Zepeda in eleven rounds in November 2022 to capture the vacant belt.
RELATED: Prograis: “Top Rank Doesn’t Believe Ramirez Can Beat Me!”
Then there was a second attempt to make a fight. Upset over the WBC ruling a 65/35 purse percentage split in favor of the champion, Ramirez turned his back on the bout at the negotiation table. After his win over Commey, the former champ was asked about facing the WBC champ.
“If Regis is serious about fighting, we can sit down, and we can negotiate and stop the BS, man. Let’s sit down and make the fight happen. I’m not a businessman. You got to learn some business. Have your management do their part, and we’re gonna sit down and make the fight happen if you’re serious about it.”
Fans have frowned at Ramirez for turning his back on a Prograis fight. They charge him with having an attitude of entitlement. However, the ex-unified champion is adamant about not accepting below what he believes is his market value.
The problem is that he is no longer a world champion and is not in a position to call the shots financially. Efforts to make Prograis vs Ramirez ultimately will come down to a battle of money and ego.
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