WBO Orders Liam Paro and Jose Ramirez to Begin Eliminator Negotiations
The WBO has officially ordered top junior welterweight contenders Liam Paro (23-0, 14KO) and former unified champion Jose Ramirez (28-1, 18KO) to begin negotiations. The burning question that fans will be asking over the next few days is: will the fight happen?
The WBO order was inevitable after Arnold Barboza Jr declined the fight with Paro following Matchroom Boxing winning the purse bid. Team Barboza felt the winning purse bid of $303,000 was not worth entertaining. Paro was set to receive sixty percent of the purse. The organization later revealed they would reach out to the next available contender in Ramirez.
Right on cue, the WBO issued documents requesting Matchroom Boxing and Top Rank to try and work out a deal.
“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations for the subject matter bout. Accordingly, the parties are granted 5 days upon issuance of this notice letter to negotiate and reach an agreement.”
RAMIREZ MAY DECLINE THE TITLE ELIMINATOR
In addition, the WBO stated that at the end of the 5 day negotiation period, a purse bid is to be ordered. Providing this goes to purse bid, considering the low amount bided last time, there is no guarantee that things will be any different.
Ramirez would not hesitate to decline the eliminator. Moreover, he may decide to forgo the whole process altogether as he’s done it before. In December 2022, he abandoned the WBC order for him to fight champion Regis Prograis. The former unified champion shares the same promotional banner and manager as Barboza Jr.. So fans should not be surprised if history repeats itself.
3kingsboxing.com will continue to monitor this story for any further developments.
