By Gerardo Granados: Next Saturday, 22, May 2021, at the Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas, Nevada; the light welterweight WBA – IBF – Ring Magazine Champion Josh Taylor will fight against the light welterweight WBC – WBO Champion Jose Ramirez to unify the 140 pounds division for the first time since Terence Crawford did it in August 2017.
For both fighters, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add their name to a much-selected group of boxers who have conquered the light welter crown. The shortlist begins with Eddy Perkins, the inaugural WBC Champion in 1963, and the WBA inaugural Champion in 1962.
Carlos Hernandez beat Perkins in 1965 to win the WBA – WBC titles. In 1966, Sandro Lopopolo beat Hernandez. Then Takeshi Fuji beat Lopopolo in 1967.
It took thirty-four years until 2001 when Kostya Tszyu beat Zab Judah to win the WBA – WBC – IBF titles to unify. Sixteen years later, in 2017, Terence Crawford beat Julius Indongo to become the WBA – WBC – IBF – WBO light welterweight Champion.
Undefeated southpaw Josh Taylor has 17 wins with 13 knockouts with no draws.
The Tartan Tornado has three title fights won; his notable wins came against former IBF lightweight Miguel Titere Vazquez, former WBC light welter Viktor Postol, former IBF light welter Ivan Baranchyk, and former WBA light welter Regis Prograis. In this fight, Taylor won the Ring Magazine belt.
Undefeated Jose Ramirez has 26 wins with 16 knockouts with no draws. Ramirez has five title bouts, and his notable wins came against Jose Zepeda (the 2020 Boxingnews24 fight of the year against Ivan Baranchyk), former WBC light welter Viktor Postol, and former WBO light welter Maurice Hooker.
Both Taylor and Ramirez have good boxing skills. Both are fairly the same size, and Ramirez has a slight reach advantage over Taylor.
I think that their fighting styles could mix well to deliver a competitive and entertaining fight, although I am not sure if this one has fight of the year potential. If I were to bet, I would place my bet on Ramirez to win by split decision.
In an era of a new breed of soft boxing fans and Covid19 endless lockdowns. And in the days of boxing, circuses hoaxes, promoted even by long-time boxing analysts. In a time that quitters are praised and almost turned into an eye socket Saint by the boxing major media puppets, it is great to see two boxers at their peak fighting each other.
No A-side crap, no marination needed, no excuses. All that is left is to know who wants it more. This unification fight is a must-watch for any real fight fan, and for sure, I will be watching.
I already picked Ramirez to win and to become the undisputed light welter Champion of the World. But, what about the readers? Who do you think will be crowned?