Jose Ramirez Cites Pay Split for Abandoning Prograis Title Fight
For the second time in 2022, Jose Ramirez (27-1, 17 KOs) has decided to forego the opportunity to fight for the WBC junior welterweight title. Ramirez was in line to face reigning WBC champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs).
NO WAY, JOSE
The ex-unified 140-pound champ is unhappy with the sanctioning body’s ruling of a 65/35 percentage split in favor of the defending champion. Reached by ESPN, Ramirez went into detail to explain his decision.
“I’m disappointed in that split. This fight should definitely be a 50-50 split and I was okay on taking 10% less. But I can’t be fighting for free and risk too much of a pay cut. Boxing is a tough sport, and we want to make sure we get valued.”
Upon hearing about Ramirez’s decision, Prograis took to social media and posted a simple yet telling response.
In July 2022, Ramirez was ordered to face Jose Zepeda for the then-vacant WBC belt. He turned down the opportunity because it conflicted with his upcoming wedding. Now there’s this latest decision that will leave many observers puzzled and shaking their heads.
MESSY ALL THE WAY AROUND
According to WBC rules, the split between an established champion and challenger is 75/25 in favor of the champ. They adjusted by adding ten percent for Ramirez, but his team deemed that unacceptable. One would think both sides could come together and hammer something out. But here’s the dilemma: Ramirez is promoted by Top Rank. Probellum is the promoter of Prograis. There is friction between those companies, and they do not deal with one another.
RUNNING SCARED?
The two fighters have a previous history. There was a time during Ramirez’s days as world champion when Prograis was his mandatory challenger. Prograis openly campaigned for a fight with Ramirez but never received it, back then. Now Ramirez is saying no to Prograis, once again. You will have a contingent of fans who will accuse Ramirez of ducking and argue he never wanted any part of Rougarou. Look for there to be plenty of reaction throughout social media and on boxing message boards.
Word on the street is that Ramirez is in discussions to face one-time IBF champion Richard Commey. With Ramirez off the table, Prograis will not likely face Teofimo Lopez who is coming off a controversial split-decision win over Sandor Martin on December 10 in what was a WBC junior welterweight world title eliminator.
Stay tuned to 3Kings Boxing for any further updates.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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