Fore! Ramirez Vs Taylor - Fightnews Asia

WBC Press

By James Blears

Jose Carlos Ramirez the WBC and WBO super-lightweight champion is fighting WBA and IBF super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor on May 22^nd at The Theater, Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas.

All boxing matches are a stern test of resolve and determination, especially at this rarefied piquant level, but the intrepid and resolute characters which define, form, and temper each of these men, will be an especially important factor on the night, determining who emerges victorious.

Nothing has come easy to Jose. Born in Avenal, California, as the child of immigrant agricultural workers originally from Michocan, Mexico, he toiled in the burning and sweltering heat in the fields as a youngster, taking part in back-breaking fruit picking, and turned to boxing to make his fortune, never forgetting his heritage and his fellow workers. He`s proud to be part of the California Water Coalition. He strives in diverse projects to help his community.

A vast ocean and a cooler continent half a world away, Josh Taylor was born in Edinburgh, known as the Granite City, and now lives in Prestonpans, just outside of Scotland`s Capital.

FORE is a Scots golfing term used to warn anyone, standing or moving, in the flight of a golf ball. As a ten-year-old, Josh didn`t have the opportunity to duck. He suffered a horrific injury involving Scotland`s national game of golf. In a follow-through, after swinging an iron, his cousin Sarah accidentally hit him on the left-hand side of his face. Just a tad higher and he would have been struck on the temple and died then and there.

Even though he was hit with terrific force, Josh neither went down nor lost consciousness, which was remarkable. As it was, Josh`s jaw was shattered in five places. He underwent major reconstructive surgery, requiring thirty stitches to the outside of his cheek and sixty stitches to the inside of it. For the next three months, he sucked in a diet of chicken soup through a straw. A small crescent-shaped scar, which he`ll carry for the rest of his life, is the reminder of that terrible blow, which he overcame. Needless to say, he can take a punch as well as deliver one!

Each has served an exacting apprenticeship, in order to become a master craftsman of the noble art of boxing.

Jose won the US National Amateur Boxing Championships, he was the Junior National Champion, twice Junior Olympic National Champion, and represented his country in the 2012 Olympic Games.

A taekwondo black belt aged thirteen Josh became Junior British champion at the same age. Turning his talent to boxing, he won a silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and went one better at the 2014 Commonwealth Games winning gold. He represented Great Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Although aged 28, Jose who`s nicknamed Jaguar is two years younger than Josh, yet he`s more experienced as a pro. He started in the pro ranks in 2012, and his record is 26-0, with 17 KO`s. While Josh, known as the Tartan Tornado turned pro in 2015 and has swept through contests like the Flying Scotsman, up to this stage. His record is 17-0, including 13 KO`s.

In a ring war with Amir Ahmed Imam on March 17^th, 2018, Jose won the vacant WBC super lightweight title. On July 27th, 2019 he KO`d Maurice Hooker in the sixth round to add the WBO title. A massive left hook to the jaw staggered lanky Hooker, who was trapped on the ropes and Jose followed up with a lightning barrage, with the referee swiftly intervening.

Josh showed his potential and promise knocking out previously undefeated Mexican Miguel Vazquez on October 11^th in 2017 and then sportingly inviting him out for a pint of bitter!

He won the IBF title on May 18^th 2019 from Ivan Baranchyk knocking him down twice in the sixth en route to a UD. Then he won the WBA title off Regis Prograis with a MD on 26^th October 2019. The Muhammad Ali Trophy was at stake in the final of the Boxing Super Series. Josh triumphed, also winning the WBC Diamond Belt on that fabled night. On 26^th September last year, he KO`d mandatory IBF Challenger Apinum Khongsong from Thailand with a huge left hook to the body in round one.

One yardstick measuring both Ramirez and Taylor is their fights with teak tough never stopped former champion Viktor Postol from the Ukraine. Josh fought and defeated him by UD, successfully defending his WBC Silver title in just the thirteenth fight of his career, on June 23^rd 2018.

It was a necessary learning curve for Josh, who dominated the cagey veteran early on, but then hit a significant patch of trouble in the seventh and eighth, as Victor caught him, landing repeatedly. Josh came back to stir the porridge with the perfect answer decking Viktor in the tenth, regaining control for the rest of the fight, which was emotively marvelous.

Jose Carlos won a MD against Viktor on 29^th August last year. It`d been more than a year since his spectacular victory against Maurice Hooker and he looked a tad ring rusty. There were two postponements before they got together. He seized the initiative early on, but then seemed to lose the plot, plodded and Postol fought his way back. Viktor was almost be dropped by a huge left hook in the seventh. He was more evasive in this bout, than when he fought Josh. In that bout he was more than happy to stand and trade.

Jose used to be coached by Freddie Roach, who also trains Viktor Postol. He`s now trained in Riverside by Robert Garcia. Josh used to be coached by Shane McGuigan. He`s now trained by Ben Davidson who`s based in Essex, near London.

Josh, who`s five feet ten inches tall and has a sixty-nine and a half inch reach is an explosive hitting southpaw who`s very fast on his feet. His left hook is his main armament and he`s a ferocious body puncher. Jose who is also five feet ten has a seventy-two-inch reach and fights from a conventional stance. His body punching is also very effective and his left hook carries dynamite. He`s patient and persistent.

Jose is Avenal`s boxing hero. Until his boxing brilliance, there were no fisticuff fiestas in that fruitful region of the Golden State. Josh is the first undisputed champion since the great Ken Buchannan who also wore Tartan trunks over a mandatory foul-proof protector. Ken is an inspiration, friend, and avid fan of Josh. Another famous garment in which Highlanders dress is the kilt. There`s nothing underneath the kilt, but tucked into its folds is a dirk dagger!

The winner of his titanic fight will be the second unified super lightweight champion in this era. The first was Terence “Bud” Crawford. Jose and Josh are undefeated coming into this terrific bout, so someone`s 0 must go!

Josh has only fought once before in Las Vegas, while Jose has fought there seven times already, although once this starts it`s only the two of them in the ring, plus the third man. California is closer to Sin City than Scotland, so expect a lot of Mexican/American support. But you`ll certainly be able to hear Scotland the Brave being sung and possibly the bagpipes?

The prize is the supremacy of this division. Nothing more, nothing less! The action and the pace is going to unrelenting and unforgiving. The skill level comes from two great champions. It`s going to be a wonderful fight and it might well go the full distance. Both have real firepower and fire in the belly, which is just as well because body punching is certainly going to be a crucial factor.

Josh is so confident he says he`ll win hands down. He`d do well to remember that Jose is as tough as nails.