Undisputed Clash Announced For May 22 On ESPN In Las Vegas

Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez’s 4-Belt 140-Pound Title Showdown will take place on May 22 in Las Vegas. Taylor vs Ramirez will take place on regular ESPN and not on the ‘+’ or ‘PPV’ platform. The Highly Anticipated undisputed super-fight sees Scotland’s Josh Taylor unify his WBA (Super) and IBF Titles with Mexican-American Jose Ramirez’s WBC and WBO Super Lightweight straps.

Taylor vs Ramirez was first eyed in early 2020 when Josh Taylor signed with Top Rank who already represented Ramirez and had done for the entirety of his pro career. However, there were many obstacles in the way such as 3 different mandatory obligations. Both men fought once in 2020 taking care of 1 mandatory each respectively.

WBO #1 Jack Catterall stepped a-side in late 2020 so Taylor vs Ramirez could take place next. It has been negotiated since early 2021 but pushed back due to the necessity of a substantial crowd. May 8 was the original date as that would fall on Cinco de mayo weekend lining up with Ramirez’s Mexican heritage and fanbase but Boxing’s Pound-For-Pound Star Canelo Alvarez opted to unify his titles with Billy Joe Saunders on that date.

Taylor vs Ramirez: History in the Making

Josh Taylor turned professional in 2015 after winning Gold at the commonwealth games the year before. He was matched tough early by cyclone promotions and won the Commonwealth title in just his 7th outing. His breakout fight came against fellow undefeated Brit Ohara Davies who he beat to claim the WBC Silver strap and boost his stardom in Scotland.

Taylor took the ultimate test against former world champion and top-5 contender Viktor Postol in 2018 winning comfortably and proving he was ready for world titles. He made that leap the following year beating IBF Champion Ivan Baranchyk in a tough fought contest over 12 rounds. As part of the WBSS, he was given no easy fights and went straight into a 50/50 PPV Headliner unification with Regis Prograis.

Taylor narrowly outpointed Prograis at a sold-out 02 Arena with 150,000 paying fans on Sky Sports Box Office. Although the commercial numbers were poor, he established himself as the #1 Super Lightweight in many people’s eyes. Since then he signed with TR in 2020 and had the one fight; a first-round knockout against Apinun Khongosng in September.

Jose Ramirez, also a stellar amateur, turned professional with an Olympic pedigree in 2012 and had an easier start amassing 21 straight victories before challenging for the title in his first test. He dominated Amir Imam to claim the WBC Title at the theatre at MSG and went on to make back to back defences against Antonio Orozco and Jose Zepeda in his hometown of Fresno pulling in strong crowds.

Ramirez didn’t enter the WBSS but nevertheless unified with WBO Champion Maurice Hooker on rival platform DAZN. Ramirez went in as the slight underdog in this outing but performed very impressively proving far too much for the Texan Stopping him in just 6 rounds. Hooker now fights Vergil Ortiz at Welterweight on March 20.

Ramirez injured his hand keeping him out for the remainder of the year and subsequently did not return until August 2020 where he narrowly outpointed top-10 Viktor Postol in what many felt was an underwhelming performance and has led many fans to see him as the underdog again going into Taylor vs Ramirez.

Josh Taylor vs Jose Ramirez will be an all-action, 50/50 undisputed title fight that will see a new entry into Boxing’s pound-for-pound list.

Taylor vs Ramirez: All The Belts, All The Glory; May 22 on ESPN