Jose Ramirez vs. Maurice Hooker being negotiated

By Boxing News - 05/06/2019 - Comments

Image: Jose Ramirez vs. Maurice Hooker being negotiated

By Charles Brun: Negotiations are underway between WBC light welterweight champion Jose Ramirez (24-0, 16 KOs) and WBO champion Maurice Hooker (26-0-3, 17 KOs) for fight that will take place on DAZN, according to Mike Coppinger. Ramirez, 26, is promoted by Top Rank and fights on ESPN. Hooker, 29, is with with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing USA.

This is one of those unification fights that you have to take a wait and see approach, because there’s always a chance that the fight won’t happen due the two fighters being on on different networks. Top Rank boss Bob Arum would need to give the green light to Ramirez for him to take the fight. If Arum chooses not to let Ramirez fight on DAZN, then it’s not going to happen.

Arum is trying to make a star out of the Fresno, California native by having him fight on ESPN. Arum wants to put together fights that will further his fighter’s careers, so it’s possible that let Ramirez fight on DAZN. It’s a very winnable fight for Ramirez. This is a match where Ramirez would likely be the favorite. If the only way for Ramirez to get the fight is for him to agree to fight on DAZN, then it’s a no-brainer for Top Rank to let the fight happen on that network.

If Ramirez wins the WBO title from Hooker, he can then vacate his WBC belt to avoid losing both of his belts. There are two superb fighters bearing down on Ramirez in Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor. Those two talented fighters are currently competing in the World Boxing Super Series light welterweight tournament. As soon as that tournament concludes , the WBC is expected to order Ramirez to defend his WBC 140-pound title against the winner of the WBSS tournament. That’ll be one of these three fighters: Prograis, Taylor or Ivan Baranchyk.

Top Rank can avoid that unpleasant situation from happening if Ramirez beats Hooker to win the WBO belt, and then vacate the WBC strap. It would obviously look like a weak move on Ramirez’s part if he were to vacate his WBC title, but it’s better for him to do that then to lose both two titles against Prograis or Taylor. Those two are fighting unbelievably well right now. In contrast, Ramirez barely beat Jose Zepeda in his last fight in February in winning a controversial 12 round majority decision.

Let’s not get it twisted though. Top Rank likely wouldn’t make this move if they didn’t think Ramirez could beat Hooker. It’s not only a winnable fight for Ramirez, and it also allows him to vacate his WBC strap to avoid defending it against Prograis, Baranchyk or Taylor. Ramirez might be able to hold onto the WBO belt a number of years if he can get his hands on it. This would be the same situation where the Top Rank promoted Gilberto Ramirez won the WBO super middleweight belt in 2016, and then held the title for three years defending it against weak opposition.