Taylor vs Ramirez full card preview
Scotsman Josh Taylor (17-0, 13 KOs) has an opportunity to become his country's first undisputed champion since Ken Buchanan in 1982 and first ever in a four-belt era, as he faces Mexican-American Jose Carlos Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs) this weekend in Las Vegas, as they both compete to rule the Super-Lightweight division.
The unification fight on May 22 between the two undefeated 140-pound world champions has been the only fight fans have wanted to see since 2019 where they both picked up their second world title belts.
30-year-old Taylor has been a world champion in the Super-Lightweight division since May 2019 after he beat Belarusian Ivan Baranchyk in the World Boxing Super Series semi-final, becoming victorious via unanimous decision for the IBF strap. In only his next fight, he picked up the WBA (Super) as well as The Ring belts in the final of the WBSS tournament in his toughest fight to date against American Regis Prograis.
28-year-old Californian Ramirez picked up his first world title a bit sooner in 2018 when he won the vacant WBC bauble via unanimous decision against Amir Imam. It wasn’t until a year later where his cagey affair with Maurice Hooker earnt him his WBO belt after a sixth round knockout.
'The Tartan Tornado' has only had 17 fights since becoming pro in 2014, however he has overcome each and every hard task put in front of him with style, dominance and class. His last fight saw him dismantle Thailand’s Apinun Khongsong within the very first round after a devastating left hook to the body. The Bangkok boxer was meant to be a formidable opponent for Taylor, with 13KOs from 16 victories, yet he was despatched with ease in just minutes.
Ramirez’s last fight was a complete contrast to Taylor’s. 'JCR' was taken the full 12 rounds by Ukraine’s former world champion Viktor Postol to scrape through to a majority decision win as the judges scored the contest 116-112, 115-113, 114-114.
Despite having the lesser number of professional bouts of the two fighters, Taylor has arguably the most accomplished record, fighting four previous world champions in comparison to 'JCR’s' two. This could be hugely advantageous for the Prestonpans puncher since he would’ve drawn more experience from the bigger name fights and proven himself more at these higher levels.
As amateurs, they both reached dizzying heights, with Taylor's successes well noted on these shores after over 150 bouts, and Ramirez was also an Olympian. In a vest, he ran his record to an impressive 85-8, winning many national championships and experienced a narrow points to defeat to one Vasyl Lomachenko in the 2011 AIBA World Championships. Both boxed in the London 2012 Olympics but didn't get past the second rounds. Taylor continued to stay amateur until his crowning glory winning gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in his home country. Ramirez hung up his vest and turned pro straight after London 2012 and made his paid debut in December that same year and remained unbeaten since.
Taylor is a slick southpaw who can fight on both the inside as well as the outside. He loves to find angles with his fluid movement to work inside, which usually leads to a strong hook to the body or a big uppercut, able to generate power from short distances.
As well as this, he loves to control the ring, applying constant pressure to his opponents by continuously walking them down and sitting on their chest, not allowing a second of respite. However, the Scotsman is also more than happy to trade shots in the centre of the ring like he did in the Prograis fight, showing his versatility.
Taylor has also demonstrated during his career that he has knockout power as well as predatory finishing instincts. With 76% knockout ratio in all his fights, it shows that his 18th opponent will have to be careful when engaging with the powerful puncher.
However, it’s not only the offence of the skilful southpaw that is strong, but he has also proven in his fight with Viktor Postol his iron-strong chin. Still emerging as a fighter, Taylor got rocked during the fight but still managed to outbox and outwork the Ukrainian over the distance to get a clear unanimous decision win. He also demonstrated this further in his 'Fight of the Year' with Regis Prograis. It was a brutal, demanding contest that showed the grit and heart of both boxers in the ring that night. This shows how difficult a task it will be to break him down and maybe Ramirez’s only way of securing victory is via a points decision.
Ramirez loves coming forward and brawling in a dogfight. With a signature left hook, 'JCR' constantly looks to land it whenever possible, and when he does it always spells trouble as it did against Hooker. Similar to Taylor as well, Ramirez is a very strong body shot puncher, constantly working the head and the body with his quick combinations.
The Mexican also has a knack for coming out on top in these dogfights and winning rounds when he most needs it, which have helped him when the fight reaches the final bell. Against American Jose Zepeda, Ramirez was trailing after the first four rounds, yet still managed to fight his way back, winning via majority decision. In fact, two of Ramirez’s last three fights have ended up in a win for the Mexican via MD.
His tability to win rounds when it really counts could also be more of a burden to Taylor, who has a history of losing points due to low blows as shown against Alfonso Olivera. conceding could be fatal for the Scotsman, especially fighting in Las Vegas, where most recently there have been questionable judges’ scorecards in favour of the American and Mexican fighters.
Both Taylor and Ramirez have a common opponent, the previously mentioned Ukrainian Viktor Postol. Out of the two world champions, Taylor looked the more comfortable fighter in the ring with 'The Iceman'. Despite being caught with big punches, he fought courageously for the full 12 rounds, even scoring a knockdown in the 10th. In comparison to this, Ramirez seemed to struggle against the Ukrainian, especially in the opening rounds, but the Mexican again relied on his strength of winning rounds when he needed to and won via majority decision.
From the start, both fighters will try and apply pressure from the opening bell, to stamp their authority early, but it will most likely be Ramirez who will be the aggressor to begin with. Taylor will most likely rely on his rapid movement and intelligence for the first few rounds until he settles into the contest.
The Scotsman needs to make sure he’s busy with the jab and countering to the body of Ramirez whenever the Mexican tries to back him up, emptying the tank of JCR in the process. Taylor also needs to make sure he relies on his counter punching ability, especially with the signature left hook of Ramirez. In previous fights against Ohara Davies and Ryan Martin, Taylor was able to constantly able to slip the left hook and counter with the right. If he is able to do this against Ramirez, he will be taking away the Mexican’s biggest threat.
Prediction
I believe Taylor will win around the 10th round via TKO. Both fighters have a massive heart and I don’t believe they will be knocked down. But due to the sheer boxing ability and versatility of Taylor’s game, I think it will be too much for Ramirez to handle and we will see a systematic breakdown of him that will lead to the official jumping in to save the Mexican from any further damage.
Betting Odds with William Hill
Josh Taylor – 2/5
Jose Carlos Ramirez – 2/1
Draw – 18/1
Undercard
Jose Zepeda vs Henry Lundy
The co-main event of the night see’s two former world title challengers go head to head as Jose Zepeda (33-2 2NC, 26KOs) faces last-minute replacement Henry “Hank” Lundy (31-8-1, 14KOs) in the Super-Lightweight Division for 'Chon's' WBC Silver Super-Lightweight title.
With Canadian-born Zepeda ranked #3 by The Ring, #5 by the WBO and #1 by the WBC, a win for him could see him shoot his way back into world title contention against the winner of the main event. It puts him in an even better position if the victor decides to go up or down in weight as he would be in contention for most the of the vacant titles.
With Lundy currently not having a world ranking with any of the four major organisations, a win against the big Canadian puncher could see a last hoorah title shot boost for the 37-year-old American, who once fought for a world title against Terence Crawford.
Zepeda’s last performance saw a massive knockout win in the 5th round against former IBF Super-Lightweight champion Ivan Baranchyk. The Canadian’s 12-year professional career has only seen him lose twice, both in world title fights against Terry Flanagan and Jose Carlos Ramirez.
'Chon' has been cruelly unlucky in both losses however, with him having to retire after the second round against Flanagan due to suffering a dislocated shoulder, followed by being pipped at the post to a majority decision by Ramirez.
Since his most recent loss to the headliner, Zepeda has won his last three fights, with one ruled as a 'No Contest'.
'Hank' has been away from the ring for over 15 months with his last bout being an eight-round unanimous decision win against Ezequiel Victor Fernandez. Lundy’s most notable fight was his WBO Super-Lightweight shot against the now WBO Welterweight champion Terrence Crawford in in 2016. Lundy lost via TKO in the fifth and since then has struggled to reach those heights again. He did register a fine win over DeMArcus Corley, however.
I can only see this fight ending one way and that is a win for the Canadian southpaw Zepeda. I believe the fresher and younger legs of 'Chon' will be too much for the ageing Lundy. I foresee Zepeda winning by way of TKO in rounds three-four.
Elvis Rodriguez Vs Kenneth Sims Jr.
The last 140-pound fight on the card see’s unbeaten Dominican prospect Elvis Rodriguez (11-0-1, 10 KOs) face his hardest test yet in Kenneth Sims Jr. (15-2-1, 5 KOs).
After going the distance for the first time in his career last time out to Luis Alberto Veron, the Dominican southpaw Rodriguez will be hoping he can do what no fighter has done to date and stop Sims within the distance.
Sims has won his last two fights against opponents with losing records after coming out second best to Samuel Teah via unanimous decision. A win against Rodriguez would completely rejuvenate the career of the man from Chicago.
However, I believe this to be another stepping stone in the rise of Elvis Rodriguez and he will beat Sims Jr by unanimous decision. Even though he possesses the power, I don’t believe the Dominican Kid will be able to knock out Sims. Rodriguez just has to be careful to not overlook the test that Sims is though since a loss here would crush all the momentum Rodriguez has built since turning pro.
Robeisy Ramirez vs Juan Tapia
After a shock debut loss to Adan Gonzales, Robeisy Ramirez (6-1, 4 KOs) has since gone on a run of 6 fights unbeaten, avenging the Gonzales loss in the process. The Cuban now finds himself up against Mexican Juan Tapia (10-3, 3 KOs).
Like all the previous fights on the card so far, this fight sees an orthodox face a southpaw with the Cuban favouring the southpaw stance.
Ramirez’s last fight saw him defeat Columbian Brandon Valdes via TKO in the 6th. Whilst Tapia’s last fight came in the shape of Fernando Garcia, who the Mexican defeated via unanimous decision.
Tapia however has shared the ring with WBO #1 ranked Shakur Stevenson during his early days as a pro. The fight ultimately ended in a unanimous decision win for Stevenson
I think the fight will end with the Cuban Robeisy Ramirez extending his unbeaten run to 7 in 7 as he beats Tapia via unanimous decision.
Jose Enrique Vivas vs Luis Coria
One of the biggest fights on the undercard has the former WBO international featherweight title contender Jose Enrique Vivas (20-1, 11 KOs) face off with California native Luis Coria (12-4, 7 KOs).
With Vivas’ only loss coming against former WBO featherweight title challenger Ruben Villa, who overcame the Mexican via unanimous decision. Since then, El Ejecutor has won his last 3 fights, with one being a 2020 fight of the year contender against Carlos Jackson and the another being an emphatic first round knockout of John Vincente Moralde.
Coria has had the opposite luck with his last two fights being both a majority decision and unanimous decision loss against Adam Lopez and Robson Conceicao respectively. However, the loss against Conceicao did not go without controversy with Coria scoring a knockdown as well as his opponent receiving a two point deduction, the score cards still leant in favour of Conceicao.
This fight has the potential to be the closest and maybe even the best on the undercard. I’m leaning more towards a Vivas win by unanimous decision however due to him having the greater experience to Coria and the better pedigree of opponents faced.
Raymond Muratalla vs Jose Gallegos
Lightweight prospect Raymond Muratalla (11-0, 9 KOs) steps up to his next test against Jose Gallegos (20-10, 15 KOs).
Coming off his 6th consecutive stoppage win, Muratella is really looking like a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division. With his last fight being on the Crawford-Brook undercard where the man known as Danger stopped Luis Porozo in the third round.
After two unanimous decision loses to good opponents in Nestor Velazquez and Austin Dulay, Gallegos ended his two fight losing streak by knocking out Geovanny Lopez in his last fight, who posed a losing record of 0-19.
I think this fight will end in convincing fashion via a knockout win for Muratalla. Although, in Gallegos’ 20 wins, he has won 15 via knockout so Muratalla will have to be switched on to avoid the heavy hands of Relampago.
Andres Cortes Vs Eddie Garza
After showing his fighters heart when he recovered from a 4th round knockdown to eventually outpoint his opponent in his last fight, Andres Cortes (13-0, 7 KOs) will fight in front of his hometown at Las Vegas for the 11th time in his 13 fights.
His opponent this time is Eduardo Garza (15-3-1, 8 KOs) who will be looking to bounce back from a knockout loss against Eduardo Hernandez in his last fight.
I think this fight will go the full 8 rounds which will see Cortes with his hand raised at the end through unanimous decision.
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