By Chris Williams: Terence Crawford sent a message to Jose Ramirez on Monday, letting him know to “be patient” because he’ll be handing him his first career defeat after he moves up to 147.
Ramirez (25-0, 17 KOs) holds the WBC and WBO light welterweight titles, and he plans on unifying the division soon against IBF/WBA 140-lb champion Josh Taylor.
Once he beats him, then Ramirez will be moving up to 147 to look to get in position to challenger Crawford for his WBO welterweight step.
Crawford may need to wait a year or two before Ramirez is ready because he’s not going to fight him immediately. Ramirez wants to get a fight under his belt after he moves up to 147, and then look to face Crawford.
Crawford tells Ramirez to be patient
“Jose Ramirez, be patient, young fellow. In due time when you’re ready, I’ll be right here to hand you your first loss gladly,” said
Terence Crawford on social media.
Ramirez, 27, has youth on his side as he waits for his chance one day to challenge Crawford for his WBO title. He may wait Crawford out until he’s older, and not the fighter he is right now. In a couple of years, Crawford will be 34 and may have lost a couple of steps by then. Ramirez will be 29 and still ni his prime.
Crawford is wasting away as the WBO welterweight champion without facing anyone well, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change. Although Crawford wants to fight Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr, those fights aren’t happening in 2020. Top Rank is likely to match Crawford with Sergey Lipinets when he does return to the ring.
The guys that are in charge of the pound-for-pound rankings at Ring Magazine have Crawford ranked highly, but he hasn’t beaten anyone talented since he moved up in weight. Boxing fans joke that Top Rank has Crawford on the witness protection plans with the way they’ve been matching him against weak opposition.
Crawford’s last six opponents
- Egidijus Kavaliauskas
- Amir Khan
- Jose Benavidez Jr
- Jeff Horn
- Julian Indongo
- John Molina Jr
None of those fighters is elite level, and it’s a little disappointing that Top Rank hasn’t stepped Crawford up yet against good opponents. When you look at Crawford’s opposition his entire career, it’s impossible to view him as a top pound for pound fighter.
Ramirez wants Crawford after he moves up
“Crawford is signed with Top Rank, and that’s the easiest fight to make happen,” said Jose Ramirez to Fighthype. “I definitely, if that’s the opportunity Top Rank gives me, I’ll definitely go for a title eliminator for the WBO.
“I believe that’s the title he has and go and fight Crawford. Right now, I’m a super lightweight, but when I do decide to make that move to the welterweight division, we need to stop and think. I’m going to be putting on extra weight.
“I’m going to be much stronger. I’m going to focus on my nutrition part to put the weight the proper way. So you’re definitely going to see a much bigger and stronger Jose Ramirez.
“Don’t compare Crawford and me with the fighter I am now. Wait to compare me once I make that move and see how much stronger I get. I’m looking forward to making that move and facing a guy like Crawford,” said Ramirez.
The extra weight that Ramirez puts on might not make him a bigger puncher. He shouldn’t have any false illusions about what the excess weight will do for him.
If Ramirez keeps winning, then he will get a fight against Crawford shortly. Bob Arum of Top Rank wants to make that fight, and a lot of boxing fans would like to see Crawford start fighting good opposition.