Notebook: Ramirez, Pedraza square off, both hungry for another title opportunity

Fury-Whyte tickets go wild; Ryan Garcia speaks out on Reynoso split; Berchelt return official; Rocha-Cobbs set as March 19 co-feature; Quick hits; Show and tell

Mar 03, 2022

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Jose Ramirez has been a unified junior welterweight titleholder and Jose “Sniper” Pedraza has won world titles in two weight divisions. Both are anxious to get back to the top of the mountain.

They can go a long way toward getting another title shot with a win over the other in the 12-round junior welterweight main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card on Friday (7:15 p.m. ET) at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, an arena in Ramirez’s home region that he has regularly filled.

“My goal is to stay at the highest level of competition. My goal is to become a world champion again,” Ramirez said during the fight week news conference on Wednesday. “You have to fight the best to be ready for those fights. I don't want any easy fights. I don't want to be fighting fights that are going to be tune-up fights.

“That’s the only thing I've been thinking about throughout the whole training camp, pushing myself to learn from my mistakes and to become a world champion again. I feel hungry. I feel like the Jose Ramirez that got his opportunity in 2018 and became world champion for the first time. I just want it back.”

Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs), 29, of Avenal, California, will be fighting for the first time since getting knocked down twice and losing a unanimous decision — 114-112 on all three scorecards with the knockdowns preventing a draw — and his two title belts to Josh Taylor in a fight for the undisputed 140-pound championship last May in Las Vegas.

“I was able to train with no pressure. I was able to train and be myself,” Ramirez said. “The biggest thing that I learned from myself when I faced Josh Taylor is that the only person that can defeat me is my own self. I feel like that's a fight that I lost. I don't believe he beat me because he's the better fighter. That fight I lost because I wasn't at my best, mentally and physically. I learned to accept it, and I want to earn the shot at the titles with my actions. I hope to show the best of my abilities on Friday.”

Former lightweight and junior lightweight world titlist Pedraza (29-3, 14 KOs), 32, of Puerto Rico, has won three fights in a row since a 10-round decision loss to contender Jose Zepeda and is aiming for a title shot in a third weight class.

“It would mean a lot becoming champion for a third time,” Pedraza said. “It would put my name along with the legends of Puerto Rico, and it would mean lot for the island, too.

“(Friday) against Ramirez will be a very important fight since the winner will be ready to challenge for a world title. That’s why I feel like this is a world title match. This is all or nothing. My goal since moving up to 140 pounds has been to win a world title to add myself to the select group of Puerto Rican champions in three weight divisions. I want to be in that group along with ‘Tito’ (Felix Trinidad), (Miguel) Cotto, (Wilfredo) Gomez, (Hector) Camacho and (Wilfredo) Vazquez, among others. I already feel that my body is acclimated to the division, and now I am ready to achieve my goal.”

Just before the main event, Richard Torrez Jr., 22, of nearby Tulare, California, who claimed the super heavyweight silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics this past summer to culminate an amateur career in which he went 154-10, will make his professional debut. He will face Allen Melson (6-3, 3 KOs), 29, of Houston, in a six-rounder.

Fury-Whyte ticket bonanza

Promoter Frank Warren claimed that the fight between heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and mandatory challenger and British countryman Dillian Whyte, scheduled for April 23 (ESPN PPV in U.S., BT Sport Box Office in U.K.) at Wembley Stadium in London, sold 85,000 tickets on Wednesday, the first day they went on sale, with more than 5,000 still available.

But Warren said he is in the process of applying to local authorities to increase the capacity to 100,000, which would make it the largest post-war boxing attendance in U.K. history. Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title defense against Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 at Wembley Stadium drew 90,000, the allowable capacity for the event.

“I always imagined that this fight wouldn't be a hard sell so I am happy we opted to stage it in the biggest and best venue in the U.K.,” Warren said. “This illustrates just what a big draw Tyson has become, his personality is infectious and he truly is a champion of the people.

“He is also the No. 1 heavyweight in the world and one of the most recognized sportsmen on the planet. I am thrilled that we are bringing him back to Britain to perform on the biggest stage of all against Dillian Whyte and a domestic dust-up that will be the biggest boxing event of the year.”

Garcia speaks on Reynoso split

Lightweight star Ryan Garcia and Emmanuel Tagoe met face to face at the kickoff news conference on Tuesday at the Golden Boy Promotions offices in Los Angeles ahead of their 12-round bout scheduled for April 9 (DAZN) at the Alamodome in San Antonio, but Garcia made more news in his tweets about his recent split from trainer Eddy Reynoso than he did about his return to the ring after 15 months.

Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs), 23, of Victorville, California, who had been called out by pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez, Reynoso’s top fighter, for his view that Garcia lacked dedication, gave his view in his posts.

“Canelo doesn’t know the facts,” Garcia wrote. “The first camp I had with Eddy went great. Then everything went bad. He only showed up two weeks before (the Francisco) Fonseca fight and that’s when I first asked my manager to talk to him about finding a new trainer. Vergil Ortiz left because Eddy never showed.

“Frank Sanchez had a fight where Eddy only showed up the day of the fight, so ask Canelo to explain that! Let’s stop the back and forth and focus on the fights at hand. By the way, got nothing but respect for Eddy. It’s just the truth.

“The truth also is that’s not even the main reason I left. Canelo knows why. I’m just going to keep it to my self and focus on the fight I have. If you think (new trainer) Joe Goossen takes it easy in training you must not know who Joe is. I’m on a mission. The truth is in the fights. Everything else is static noise.”

As for the news conference, Garcia spoke of the challenge he believes Tagoe will present as he returns to the ring following mental health issues and hand surgery that wrecked most of his 2021.

“I’m very excited, it’s been a long time,” Garcia said. “Tagoe is a legitimate contender. I have nothing but respect for him. He has a big opportunity here. He’s been looking for a tough fight, a fight that will make or break him, and I am looking forward to a dog fight if it happens to be one.

“I am definitely not looking past him, whether people think he is a good contender or not, and I respect him and I know this will be a good fight.”

Tagoe (32-1,15 KOs), 33, of Ghana, will be boxing in the United States for the third time and second time in a row, but he has not fought since November 2020 and is taking major step up in competition.

“I know people don't know me, but after this fight, people are going to ask, who is this guy,” Tagoe said. “I know Ryan Garcia; I respect him a lot as a good boxer.”

Berchelt return official

Former longtime junior lightweight titleholder Miguel Berchelt will face Jeremiah Nakathila in a 10-round lightweight bout on March 26 (ESPN/ESPN Deportes/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET) at Resorts World in Las Vegas, Top Rank announced on Wednesday.

The card will be the first sports event at Resorts World Las Vegas, which opened last June.

In the 10-round all-Mexican featherweight co-feature, Jose Enrique Vivas (21-1, 11 KOs), 27, will face Eduardo Baez (20-2-2, 7 KOs), 26.

“Miguel Berchelt is motivated to become a two-weight world champion, and he has a formidable test in his lightweight debut against Jeremiah Nakathila,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. “It is a great honor to promote the first boxing event at Resorts World Las Vegas, a fantastic new property we hope will host many fight nights in the coming years.”

Berchelt (38-2, 34 KOs), 30, of Mexico, held the WBC 130-pound title from 2017 to 2021 and made six successful defenses until he met Oscar Valdez in a much-anticipated fight last February and got dominated and badly knocked out in the KO of the year in the 10th round inside the conference center of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Berchelt is moving up to lightweight in his first fight since the loss.

“I am ready to turn the page and show the fans I have what it takes to become a two-division world champion,” Berchelt said. “The Valdez fight is in the past, and my focus is on Nakathila and a lightweight world title in 2022.”

Nakathila (22-2, 18 KOs), 32, of Namibia, fought in the United States for the first time this past June, when he got knocked down in the fourth round and dominated in a shutout decision loss to Shakur Stevenson for the WBO interim junior lightweight belt. Nakathila has boxed once since, notching a second-round knockout win over a novice opponent in October in Namibia.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to fight Berchelt. Given our styles, it will make for a highly entertaining fight,” Nakathila said. “This is my lightweight debut, and I'm looking forward to my first win against a highly rated former champion.”

Rocha-Cobbs co-feature

Golden Boy announced that welterweights Alexis Rocha (18-1, 12 KOs), 24, of Santa Ana, California, and fellow southpaw Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs), 32, of Las Vegas, will meet in the 10-round co-feature on the Vergil Ortiz Jr.-Michael McKinson card on March 19 (DAZN) at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

“I know what is expected of me at this stage of my career; I’m expected to knock people out,” said Rocha, who has won two fights in a row since a 12-round decision loss to unbeaten Rashidi Ellis in October 2020. “I own and embrace that expectation. I know Blair and have watched him develop. He’s a good fighter, but I am confident I will win in explosive fashion. He’s a southpaw and I’ve sparred with the best southpaws in the world, from (Manny) Pacquiao to Josh Taylor. I’m ready for this fight.”

Cobbs is coming off his biggest win, a fifth-round knockout of Brad Solomon in June.

“This is my moment to prove that I am a fighter to be feared in the welterweight division,” Cobbs said. “I am ready for this challenge.”

Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya promotes both fighters and hopes the winner will emerge as a fighter to be reckoned with at 147 pounds.

“Both Alexis and Blair are shining stars in the Golden Boy stable,” De La Hoya said. “They have grown up here, we have developed their careers, and now they are ready for the next big challenge in their boxing careers. I am excited to see what they will both do in the ring and feel that on March 19th we will see a new star emerge.”

Quick hits

Pound-for-pound king and undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol came face to face on Wednesday at a hotel in San Diego to kick off the promotion for Alvarez’s move up in weight to challenge for Bivol’s title. The fight, announced last week for May 7 as the first DAZN PPV event, will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced. The fight will be Alvarez’s sixth at the arena since opening it for boxing with his 2016 knockout of Amir Khan. The fight will be Bivol’s second in Las Vegas.

The IBF canceled the purse bid that had been scheduled for Monday for the welterweight title elimination fight between Jaron Ennis (28-0, 26 KOs), 24, of Philadelphia, the 2020 prospect of the year, and Custio Clayton (19-0-1, 12 KOs), 34, of Canada. Fight Freaks Unite reported two weeks ago that they had reached agreement but that was made official when the bid was canceled. According to a source with knowledge of the deal, contracts have been submitted to the IBF with the fight penciled in for May 21 on Showtime.

Unified women’s junior lightweight world titlist Mikaela Mayer (16-0, 5 KOs), 31, of Los Angeles, will defend her belts on April 9 against former featherweight titlist Jennifer Han at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California, on a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card, a source with knowledge of the plans told Fight Freaks Unite. Mayer unified two belts by outpointing Maiva Hamadouche in an all-out slugfest on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas. Han (18-4-1, 1 KO), 38, of El Paso, is coming off a shutout decision loss in which she was knocked down challenging undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor this past September.

With the four major organizations recently announcing that they would no longer sanction any world or regional title bouts in Russia because of its unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine, a card on March 26 in Ekaterinburg, Russia, has been canceled, a source with involvement in the event told Fight Freaks Unite. The card was slated to feature WBA “regular” cruiserweight titlist Ryad Merhy defending against Russia’s Evgeny Tishchenko and a WBO junior middleweight regional title bout between Magomed Kurbanov and former world titleholder Patrick Teixeira, which has now been postponed twice.

Wasserman Boxing and the United Kingdom over-the-air network Channel 5 announced an exclusive multi-fight deal for the promoter to put on five shows this year. Hennessy Boxing used to be the exclusive Channel 5 promoter. Wasserman promotes fighters such as middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr., welterweight Josh Kelly and heavyweight Nathan Gorman. Dates and bouts were not announced. “This is a major move that is going to revolutionize free-to-air boxing in the UK,” said Wasserman promoter Kalle Sauerland. “We all know the brilliant numbers that Channel 5 does with boxing and we feel with these great partners we can take this to a whole new level.”

Show and tell

Before Deontay Wilder’s issues with Tyson Fury in their three-fight heavyweight championship series with Tyson Fury in which he went 0-2-1, Wilder made 10 title defenses, winning all by knockout except the draw in his first fight with Fury. The best fight of Wilder’s defenses was by far and away his first fight with then-division boogeyman Luis “King Kong” Ortiz, who nobody wanted to face until Wilder gave him a shot he did not have to give him. The first four rounds were fairly pedestrian but then it really took off and they produced a bona fide fight of the year candidate. Wilder dropped Ortiz in the fifth round, then survived a near-stoppage in the seventh and stormed back for a thunderous 10th-round knockout in a dramatic and exciting fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The fight was on March 3, 2018 — four years ago on Thursday. Here is a tremendously scarce thin cardboard site poster in my collection.

Ramirez-Pedraza photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank; Warren/Fury photo: Queensberry Promotions; Garcia-Tagoe photo: Golden Boy; Alvarez-Bivol photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing

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