Notebook: Ramirez, Taylor to battle for undisputed 140 title May 22
Ruiz returns, Smith-Vlasov new date, Quick hits, much more
The undisputed junior welterweight world championship fight between Jose Ramirez and Josh Taylor, who each hold two of the four major sanctioning body belts, has been finalized.
They will meet for 140-pound supremacy on May 22 (ESPN/ESPN Deportes/ESPN+, 8:30 p.m. ET), Top Rank announced on Tuesday.
Although Top Rank did not announce the site of the bout, a Top Rank source told Fight Freaks Unite it will take place in Las Vegas with the plan to be at a venue with a limited number of spectators permitted to attend.
The winner of the fight between 2012 Olympians will become the second boxer of the four-belt era to unify the four major 140-pound titles, joining Top Rank stablemate Terence Crawford, who did it in 2017 and then vacated to move up in weight.
“This is the best boxing has to offer, two elite fighters in the prime of their careers colliding in a legacy-defining matchup for the undisputed championship of the world,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. “It’s a true 50-50 fight, one that the fans and both fighters demanded.”
The fight has been agreed to for the past few weeks but a few details remained, such as the date being in flux.
“I look forward to making history by becoming the first boxer of Mexican descent to hold all four major world title belts,” Ramirez said. “I dedicate this fight to the Central Valley (of California) farm workers, who are out there every day helping feed the world. This fight is big, but nothing is bigger than getting vaccinations to the farm workers right now in the Central Valley.”
Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs), 28, of Avenal, California, won a vacant title in 2018 and has made four defenses, including unifying two belts by sixth-round knockout of Maurice Hooker in July 2019. Ramirez is coming off a majority decision over former titlist Viktor Postol in a mandatory defense on Aug. 29 in Las Vegas.
“No excuses, no fake social media promises, no grandstanding. This is the best fighting the best at their absolute best,” said Rick Mirigian, Ramirez’s manager. “Jose will have his hand raised in the end, solidifying his status as a Hall of Famer.”
Taylor (17-0, 13 KOs), 30, a southpaw from Scotland, has made two defenses. He won the belt by outpointing Ivan Baranchyk in the World Boxing Super Series semifinals in May 2019 and then outpointed Regis Prograis to unify titles in the tournament final in October 2019. Last September, he made a mandatory defense, knocking out Apinun Khongsong in the first round in London.
“I’m excited it’s been finalized and over the line,” Taylor said. “I can’t wait to get in there for the biggest fight of my career. Fighting for the undisputed title is something all boxers dream about.”
Source: Ruiz returns vs. Arreola
Former unified heavyweight world titlist Andy Ruiz and former two-time title challenger Chris Arreola, both from Southern California, who have been linked to a fight with each other for about a year, will meet in an all-Mexican-American bout April 24 at a site to be determined, a source with knowledge of the plans told Fight Freaks Unite. The bout will air on Fox pay-per-view, the source said.
The fight was initially in the work for last spring, but did not materialized due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In June 2019, Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs), 31, of Imperial, California, was a short-notice replacement when he knocked out Anthony Joshua in the seventh round to win three of the major heavyweight titles in a massive upset at Madison Square Garden in New York. But six months later, Joshua regained the belts in a one-sided decision victory over the dramatically out of shape Ruiz in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Ruiz did not fight at all in 2020.
Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs), who turns 40 on Friday, is 0-3 in world title fights, having been stopped by Vitali Klitschko in the 10th round in 2009, by Bermane Stiverne in the sixth round in 2014 and by Deontay Wilder in the eighth round in 2016.
After the Wilder fight Arreola bounced back to win two lesser fights in a row but then lost his most recent bout in August 2019, when he dropped a unanimous decision to then-unbeaten Adam Kownacki in an all-out slugfest that set various CompuBox records for a heavyweight fight.
Smith-Vlasov being rescheduled
The Joe Smith Jr.-Maxim Vlasov fight for the vacant WBO light heavyweight title is in the process of being rescheduled for April 10 (ESPN/ESPN+), multiple sources told Fight Freaks Unite. The deal to reschedule the fight was reached Monday night and the fight will take place at a casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a limited number of fans will be permitted, one of the sources said.
BoxingScene first reported the new date for the bout.
Smith and Vlasov were scheduled to fight on Feb. 13 inside the bubble of the conference center of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas but the fight was postponed two days beforehand when Vlasov tested positive for Covid-19, leaving the card to go forward with the Richard Commey-Jackson Marinez co-feature moving into the main event slot.
Smith (26-3, 21 KOs), 31, from Mastic, New York, on Long Island, will be getting his second shot at a world title. He previously lost a decision to Dmitry Bivol in a 2019 title bout but has won both of his bouts since against Jesse Hart and former titlist Eleider “Storm” Alvarez.
Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs), 34, of Russia, is also getting his second crack at a world title. In 2018 he moved up in weight for a shot at a cruiserweight belt but lost a decision to Krzysztof Glowacki.
Benavidez-Ellis card official
Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions on Tuesday formally announced an expected tripleheader for March 13 (9 p.m. ET) at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Former two-time super middleweight world titlist David Benavidez (23-0, 20 KOs), 24, of Phoenix, headlines against Ronald Ellis (18-1-2, 12 KOs), 31, of Lynn, Massachusetts, in a WBC semifinal super middleweight title eliminator.
Benavidez comment: “I’ve had an amazing camp in Big Bear (California) and this is the strongest I have ever felt so I’m looking to get an early stoppage against Ellis. I’m glad this is a title eliminator and it’s going to be another step to being a world champion once again.”
Ellis comment: “It’s a fight but not just any fight. This is the type of fight I have trained for and wanted since I turned pro. He’s going to bring his best on March 13 and that will bring out the best in me.”
In the co-feature, lightweight contender Isaac Cruz (20-1-1, 15 KOs), 22, of Mexico, will face Jose Matias Romero (24-0, 8 KOs), 24, of Argentina, in a 12-rounder. Cruz is coming off a brutal first-round knockout of Diego Magdaleno in an Oct. 31 title eliminator on the Gervonta Davis-Leo Santa Cruz PPV. Romero will be facing his first name opponent and boxing outside of his home country for the second time.
Cruz comment: “The lightweight division is the hottest in boxing right now. This fight puts me one step closer to my dream of winning a world title for my dad, Isaac Cruz Sr., and my country, Mexico.”
Romero comment: “I’ve come so far from Argentina to bring myself one step closer to reaching my goal of being a world champion. I know that Isaac Cruz is a big puncher but he’s never fought anyone with my speed and heart.”
The 10-round opener matches junior middleweight Terrell Gausha (21-2-1, 10 KOs), 33, a former world title challenger from Cleveland, against Jamontay Clark (15-1-1, 7 KOs), 26, of Cincinnati, in a 10-rounder.
Gausha comment: “I’m just blessed to be able to do what I love to do. On March 13, I’m ready to go out there and show everybody what Terrell Gausha is made of and put on a show.”
Clark comment: “It’s been a while since I was in the ring and I’m just excited to be back taking on someone like Terrell Gausha, who will bring a good challenge and let me display all of my talents. This is the first step in getting back to regular action and I’m not going to waste this opportunity. I’m going on a big run after I beat Gausha. As McFadden and Whitehead said, ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.’”
Bivol-Ramirez in talks
Golden Boy Promotions, which signed light heavyweight contender Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (41-0, 27 KOs) last week, is already in talks with the team of world titlist Dmitry Bivol (17-0, 11 KOs) to match them later in the year.
I spoke to Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya about his signing of Ramirez and the potential 175-pound world title fight. I also spoke to Vadim Kornilov, Bivol’s manager, about the discussions and what he thinks about the match for Bivol.
Both fighters would have an interim bout before they fight each other if the deal is finalized. I wrote about it for BoxingScene on Monday. Please read that story here: https://www.boxingscene.com/dmitry-bivol-gilberto-ramirez-title-showdown-discussions--155834
Shields eyes 2-sport stardom
Claressa Shields and Marie-Eve Dicaire will meet for the undisputed women’s junior middleweight world championship in the main event of the all-female “Superwomen” card on Friday (PPV and FITE, 9 p.m. ET) at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint, Michigan, Shields’ hometown, but that is only part of Shields’ plans.
Shields is already one of the best in women’s boxing. She’s a two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist, a reigning unified junior middleweight titleholder, the reigning unified middleweight champion (previously undisputed) and a former unified super middleweight titlist. But she is also starting out in MMA and aims to make a splash in that sport as well after signing with the Professional Fighters League in December. She makes her PFL debut in June.
I wrote about Shields’ quest for two-sport stardom and how she is learning the ropes in MMA while balancing her boxing career for The Ring magazine website on Monday. Please read that story here: https://www.ringtv.com/618398-claressa-shields-seeks-double-undisputed-glory-determined-to-make-a-mark-on-mma/
Quick hits
Raymond Ford, Austin “Ammo” Williams and Otha Jones III, three of Matchroom Boxing’s finest prospects, will appear in eight-rounders on the undercard of the Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez-Juan Francisco Estrada rematch to unify junior bantamweight titles on March 13 (DAZN) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the company announced Tuesday. Featherweight Ford (8-0, 4 KOs), 21, will face Aaron Perez (10-0, 6 KOs); middleweight Williams (7-0, 6 KOs), 24, meets Aaron Coley (16-3-1, 7 KOs); and lightweight Jones (5-0-1, 2 KOs), 21, fights Jorge David Castaneda (13-1 11 KOs). Williams and Jones are in their first scheduled eight-rounders. “This is a big night for Ray, Ammo and OJ3,” promoter Eddie Hearn said. “These boys will be out to steal the show. All three of them are top talents, and now they are moving into the next phase of their careers, taking on tougher tests and stepping up to eight-rounders and beyond. The pressure is on to shine, and I am sure they are going to rise to the occasion.”
The card headlined by French heavyweight up-and-comer Tony Yoka (9-0, 7 KOs), 28, the 2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist, and Belgium native Joel Tambwe Djeko (17-2-1, 8 KOs), 31, will stream on ESPN+ on Friday (2:40 p.m. ET) from H Arena in Nantes, France, Top Rank announced on Monday, confirming what Fight Freaks Unite reported last week. The stream will include three other bouts: Yoka’s wife, lightweight Estelle Yoka-Mossely (8-0-1, 1 KO), 28, who won Olympic lightweight gold for France in 2016, against Verena Kaiser (14-1, 6 KOs), 28, of Germany, in a 10-rounder; French middleweight Farrhad Saad (7-0-1) versus Bulgaria’s Borislav Ivanov (9-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-rounder; and French junior lightweight Khalil el Hadri (10-0, 6 KOs) against Spain’s Jon Martinez (7-6-5, 1 KO) in a six-rounder.
Showtime has rounded out a “ShoBox: The New Generation” quadrupleheader scheduled for March 10 (9 p.m. ET/PT) at Mohegan Sun Arena. Joining the previously announced 10-round junior welterweight main event between Brandun Lee (21-0, 19 KOs) and Samuel Teah (17-3-1, 7 KOs) are three eight-rounders: junior lightweight Misael Lopez (11-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jordan White (10-1, 8 KOs); lightweight Steven Ortiz (11-0, 3 KOs) vs. Jeremy Hill (14-0, 9 KOs); and junior lightweight Victor Padilla (8-0, 7 KOs) vs. Thomas Velasquez (10-0-1, 6 KOs).
Matchroom Boxing has postponed its card in Barcelona, Spain from March 26 to April 23 (DAZN) due to extended travel restrictions in the country related to the coronavirus pandemic. The card features two European title bouts: Barcelona’s Sandor Martin (36-2, 13 KOs) defending his EBU junior welterweight title against England’s Kay Prosper (14-1-1, 7 KOs) and Spain’s Andoni Gago (24-3-3, 7 KOs) defending his EBU featherweight title against England’s Gavin McDonell (22-2-2, 6 KOs).
Show and tell
There are few fighters I have enjoyed covering more than Miguel Cotto. I covered his entire career and was ringside for 26 of his 47 fights, some among the most thrilling I have been to. Every single fight he gave it everything he had, win or lose; he fought everybody; and he won world titles in four weight classes (the only male Puerto Rican fighter to do that). Also, I’ve always liked him personally. I traveled to Puerto Rico to cover one of his fights and it was a wonderful experience even if his welterweight title defense against Oktay Urkal was totally one-sided until Urkal’s corner threw in the towel in the 11th round. The fight was at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan on March 3, 2007, which is 14 years ago on Wednesday. Of course, I brought home some stuff from the fight, including a scarce site poster (two, actually) for my collection.
Ruiz photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Seems to me that I can remember you Dan, on Friday Night Fights talking about your excitement for Miranda-Green !
I love this new email format, Dan. Was that Edison Miranda-Allan Green on the undercard of Cotto-Urkal? Better than the headliner, if so. If memory serves, Miranda won in a stinker.
I am leaning Ramirez over Taylor. Tough style for Taylor, and Ramirez has a better chin, though Taylor isn’t chinny. It’s going to be good though.
I will not be buying a Ruiz-Arreola PPV, though I like both fighters and the fight. PBC is the worst.