What we discovered: It is time to cease doubting Jose Ramirez
Steve KimESPN
In what was a swift and sudden finish to an extremely entertaining battle, Jose Ramirez scored a Sixth-round stoppage of Maurice Hooker to turn out to be the unified WBC and WBO junior welterweight champion.
Overcoming Hooker in his hometown, Ramirez scored an announcement victory. The sort that defines careers.
What did we study Jose Ramirez tonight?
Now not can Ramirez be thought-about only a rigorously guided fighter — a man who was given a sure stage of safety by High Rank, given that he’s an enormous attract Fresno, California. Whereas he was a world champion (and former Olympian), not many actually thought-about him the perfect 140 pounder on the planet.
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After his emphatic victory over the beforehand unbeaten Hooker, that may not be stated of Ramirez. He did not simply add one other belt to his assortment, he served discover that he’s actually a world-class fighter and perhaps, simply perhaps, the perfect junior welterweight on the planet.
Typically it is not in case you win, however the way you accomplish that. Ramirez stamped himself as an elite fighter tonight.
Jose Ramirez placed on a career-defining efficiency along with his sixth-round TKO of Maurice Hooker. Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos
How a lot did Ramirez’s choice to coach with Robert Garcia play into this victory?
It got here as a shock to some when Ramirez, after profitable the title final March in opposition to Amir Imam, determined to maneuver from Freddie Roach to Robert Garcia. Each are actually extremely regarded cornermen who’ve guided quite a few world champions to victory, however there may be that previous saying — if it ain’t broke, do not repair it.
Nevertheless it’s exhausting to argue with the outcomes of this union, as they’ve now racked up three victories, and the Hooker efficiency speaks for itself. Most of the key methods that had been being labored on on the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside over the previous few months had been executed to perfection on Saturday night time: the pinnacle motion coming in, getting inside on Hooker, and letting the left hook go to the physique when in shut.
A really sound recreation plan was hatched by Garcia, after which forcefully performed out by Ramirez. As large as this win was for Ramirez, for Garcia, it is one in every of his greatest victories as a coach.
“It is up there,” stated Garcia, “Completely, it is one of many nice ones.”
What’s subsequent for Ramirez?
His outspoken supervisor Rick Mirigian says that if Ramirez checks out wholesome that they’ll look to convey him again in November, probably in his dwelling area of Fresno, the place he has turn out to be one of many greatest attracts in the US. High Rank believes it could possibly be a bit later in 2019. Regardless, Ramirez, who’s simply 26, will likely be stored lively.
The general goal is to focus on the winner of the Josh Taylor-Regis Prograis struggle, which is the finals of the World Boxing Tremendous Sequence. The one problem is that match-up nonetheless hasn’t discovered a date or dwelling. However Ramirez, like the opposite belt-holders, has made it clear that they wish to unify the division, and Taylor (IBF) and Prograis (WBA) have the final two remaining straps.
Maurice Hooker had some large moments in his title unification bout with Jose Ramirez, however his potential shifting ahead would possibly greatest be served with a transfer as much as 147 kilos. Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA
What’s subsequent for Hooker?
Maybe a transfer to 147, the place his 6-foot body will extra simply match. Making junior welterweight is a chore for him, and you might surmise that the pressure of constructing the junior welterweight restrict has eroded a little bit of his punch resistance. He is a strong identify and nonetheless has a cope with DAZN, the place he will be featured on large playing cards.
However in truth, the longer term is unclear for Hooker — a fighter whose worth is de facto depending on having a championship belt.
It was in the end irrelevant, contemplating the end result, however ought to mis-called knockdowns like what occurred within the first spherical be reviewable in boxing?
Think about this nightmare state of affairs: Ramirez by no means lands that large fight-changing left hook within the sixth, and the struggle proceeds with Hooker making an enormous run within the second half of the struggle versus a tiring Ramirez, who expended an exorbitant quantity of power within the first six rounds to construct up a lead on the scorecards. It is the story of two fights, the primary for Ramirez, the second for Hooker.
And after 12 rounds the judges( at the least two) have it 6-6 in rounds, however due to that doubtful knockdown within the first body, give Ramirez the choice by the tally of 114-113. Yeah, there could be a serious outcry over the decision. Now, this isn’t a knock on referee Mark Nelson, who did a positive job in there, however he did miss that decision, because it was clear that Hooker was despatched to the canvas within the first spherical as a result of his foot was stepped on by Ramirez.
The second did not in the end issue within the struggle, as Jose Ramirez earned a TKO victory over Maurice Hooker, however the phantom knockdown within the first spherical might’ve loomed giant if the struggle turned out in a different way. Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA
Why not make the most of fashionable know-how to right an error of this nature? Some states, like Nevada, have the flexibility to make the most of prompt replay, however Texas is not one in every of them.
There is likely to be some logistical points, however you’d hate to see a struggle selected a missed name that was so apparent to everybody who had entry to the replay world wide. With boxing have a minute relaxation interval after every spherical, a mistake of this nature could possibly be simply rectified with out actually damaging the circulation of the struggle.
It is time for each fee to help boxing in becoming a member of the 21st century on this regard.
How can Tevin Farmer transfer the needle?
Since profitable his belt in opposition to Billy Dib final summer time in Australia, Farmer has defeated the quartet of James Tennyson (TKO5), Francisco Fonseca (W12), Jono Carroll and now, Guillame Frenois. Outdoors the Carroll struggle — which was an entertaining affair again in March — Farmer is way simpler than thrilling.
On the identical time, that is the game of boxing. Farmer has mastered the artwork of hitting and never getting hit.
Except shedding a degree for a low blow within the 10th spherical, IBF junior light-weight champion Tevin Farmer placed on a medical, dominant efficiency in his victory over Guillaume Frenois. Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA
There are numerous similarities between Farmer and IBF tremendous middleweight champion Caleb Plant — one other grasp boxer whose fights can get very monotonous as he merely wins one spherical after one other versus mediocre opposition. However in opposition to world-class foes, you’ll be able to actually recognize their fashion.
With that stated, it is time for Farmer to face a menace. A faceoff in opposition to WBA champion Gervonta Davis is unrealistic, given the community politics. However a bout versus Joseph Diaz, who’s promoted by Golden Boy (which has a partnership with DAZN) is one thing that may simply come collectively. After Saturday’s struggle, Farmer’s promoter, Lou DiBella, made it clear that’s the struggle they’ll intention for subsequent.
Diaz, a 2012 US Olympian, is a high quality opponent whose solely loss was to WBC featherweight titlist Gary Russell in 2018.
There are specific fighters who will be solo acts given their energy and kinds; Farmer, sadly, is the kind that’s want of dance companions.