Jose Carlos Ramirez Comfortably Decisions Jose Pedraza
After enduring his painful first professional loss, super lightweight boxer Jose Carlos Ramirez (27-1, 17 KO’s) has re-entered the win column. Ramirez accomplished this by besting Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (29-4, 14 KO’s) by way of unanimous decision. It was a solid win given his recent loss coupled with Pedraza’s recent success.
Sniper came to the ring riding a three-fight win streak after suffering his most recent defeat to Jose Zepeda back on September 14, 2019. Now he will have to start piecing things back together. This will be especially painful since Pedraza held the #1 (WBC) and #5 (WBO) rankings entering the contest. Obviously, with the WBC ranking, he was in prime position to press for a fight with undisputed 140-pound champion Josh Taylor. Clearly that will no longer be the case.
In his perfect world, Ramirez would next get a shot at Taylor himself. This is the dustup that he would love considering it was Taylor who saddled him with his first and only loss. It would also provide the gritty Californian a second opportunity to become undisputed himself. With his standing of #2 (WBC) and #7 (WBO), Ramirez will likely overtake Pedraza’s #1 (WBC) position. If true, there is little doubt he will scream from the mountain tops that he wants his ‘do-over.’
EFFECTIVE AGGRESSION
Ramirez launched the fight playing the role of ring general by immediately stalking Pedraza with smart pressure. Nothing of real consequence landed in the first two periods but Ramirez was connecting with increasing frequency. During the third round, the Sniper was more effective in his role of counter-puncher. For the first two minutes, he gave Ramirez trouble but down the final minute, Pedraza couldn’t keep his foe from routinely breaching his defense.
In the closing thirty seconds of the fourth round, Ramirez hammered Pedraza’s chin with a short, straight right-hand that bothered him. Following the initial shot, Ramirez blasted Sniper with a number of heavy head shots. The jab became the choice punch of the fifth as it kept Pedraza’s head snapping back throughout the period. Over the sixth and seventh rounds, Pedraza utilized his slick defense to slow the pace and land his own offense.
TO THE JUDGES WE GO
Jose Carlos Ramirez swung the bout back in favor during the ninth round by clipping Pedraza with a number of hard straight rights to the face and chin. Sniper took them well but it was evident that they hurt and sapped precious energy. Pedraza spent nearly the entirety of the tenth practicing for the Tour De France. Sniper parked his bike for the eleventh but the good, clean work of Ramirez likely won the day.
Down the stretch of the final period, the fight ended like it began as Ramirez pursued a largely mobile Pedraza. Given the overall flow of the bout, it was no surprise when Ramirez was awarded the win to the tune of 116-112 on all three scorecards.
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By: Bakari Simpson
