Former unified junior weight division Jose Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs) is ready to turn the tables. Last May, he lost to Josh Taylor in a decision to compete for the undisputed title. The Road to Redemption begins Friday, March 4, at Fresno’s Save Mart Center in a 12-round bout against Puerto Rican two-weight world champion José Pedraza (March 29, KO) .
All Ramirez-Pedraza cards will stream live and exclusive on ESPN+. – Fans outside the US can watch the match live on FITETV:
Ramirez, from Avenal, California, returns home to the friendly detention facility of the Save Mart Center. During five spotlight events at the venue, Ramirez drew more than 65,000 of his most devoted Central Valley fans through turnstiles.
Here’s what Ramirez had to say after a recent training session at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, California.
“The loss to Taylor taught me a lot. It was the first fight of my career, and I felt like it made me crave boxing again.
I really enjoyed this training camp to prepare to get back on the winning road. I had a very enjoyable training session with Robert Garcia in Riverside.
I corrected the mistakes I made in the fight against Taylor. Maybe I’ve been doing them for a long time, but when you’re winning all your matches, you don’t always see mistakes. I had a hard time accepting it, but I turned the page. I can not do anything. “
“I am ready to get back to the top of the league. I know that I’m one of the best boxers at 140 pounds. I want to win my title back and win all the belts. It doesn’t matter if it’s a rematch with Taylor, a challenge to another champion, or in an empty title fight with another top contender. I want my titles back.”
“José Pedraza is a tough test. He’s a very good boxer and has been looking good since moving into the 140-pound division. I want to take another hit at the title. I’m not one to talk much. I came to face the best and let my performance in the ring speak for itself. ”
“I hope that Pedraza will prepare well. I want to face the best version of José Pedraza so we can give fans another classic battle between Mexico and Puerto Rico.”
“Coming back to fight again in front of my own people in Fresno makes me very happy. I’m practicing very hard because I want to bring joy and happiness to the fans again. I want them to feel proud, and that’s why I came here to leave everything inside the ring on March 4th at the Save Mart Center. ”
Ramirez vs. Pedraza headed a stacked match that included featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez (24-2, 14 KOs) against Jeo Santisima (21-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-round, professional debut US Olympic six-round heavyweight medalist Richard Torrez Jr., Gabriel Flores Jr (20-1, 7 KOs) returns in a 10-round lightweight match against Abraham Montoya (20-2-1, 14 KOs), light heavyweight Karlos Balderas (11- 1, 10 KOs) in eight rounds, a light heavyweight prospect Charlie Sheehy (1-0.1 KO) in four first rounds, 6’9 heavyweight KOs Antonio “El Gigante” Mireles (2-0, 2 KOs) in a four-circle round, and middleweight prospect Javier “Milwaukee Made” Martinez (5-0, 2 KOs) in a sixth round.
