The boxer Jose Pedraza has reached the top of the sport a couple of times before. He is a former junior world champion in the lightweight division. He is now hoping to join a handful of boxers from Puerto Rico that have won world championships in more than two weight classes. He can take a big stride towards that aim when he fights against the former unified champ Jose Ramirez on March 4. The Jose Ramirez vs. Jose Pedraza match will happen in the resident city of Ramirez in Fresno, California, at the Save Mart Center as a junior welterweight main event. The victor will be well-positioned to get an opportunity to fight for the world championship belt in the weight class later in the year. Earlier, the match between the light welterweight boxers was going to take place in February. But Pedraza fell sick with symptoms that indicated he caught the flu. The Jose Ramirez vs. Jose Pedraza match will be shown live on ESPN+.
Ramirez is among the top three light-welterweight boxers in the world. He got the first defeat of his boxing career about half a year ago. It was a decision loss against Josh Taylor in a fight for the undisputed championship belt. The young boxer started well in the hardest match of his professional career. But the difference in the match was the middle rounds where there were knockdowns. The match could have been a draw as the worst outcome for Ramirez if he had not fallen on the canvas a couple of times. But the boxer improved his outlook among opponents and critics in the defeat. So, his comeback match was always a tough challenge rather than an easy victory. Pedraza is a smooth fighter from Puerto Rico. He was once a champion in the lighter-weight class. The boxer lost that championship to Gervonta Davis five years ago. After that, he moved up a weight class. He also signed up with the promoter Top Rank. It revitalized his boxing career with a championship win against Ray Beltran the following year.
In the next match, he lost that championship title to Vasiliy Lomachenko before moving up another weight class. After a decision loss against Jose Zepeda, he has obtained consecutive victories. He is among the top boxers in his current weight class. He is now on the cusp of getting another shot at the world championship belt in his weight class. By taking on another hard fight in his comeback match, the boxer will get closer to having a rematch with Taylor and another chance at the world championship. Ramirez already has a great resume. He has won against Zepeda, Maurice Hooker, and Viktor Postol. Ramirez said, "I am motivated to become world champion once again, and it begins with a tough fight against Pedraza. There are no better fans than those who pack the Save Mart Center every time I fight. The Central Valley is my home, and it is always a great honor to perform for my people.”
“The loss against Taylor taught me a lot. It was the first of my career, and I feel like it brought back my hunger for boxing again. I've really enjoyed this training camp preparing me to get back on the winning path. I've had a lot of fun training with Robert Garcia in Riverside. I have corrected the mistakes that I made in that fight against Taylor. Maybe I had been making them for a long time, but when you win all your fights, you do not always look at the mistakes. I had a hard time accepting it, but I've already turned the page. There's nothing I can do about it. I am ready to return to the top of the division. I know that I am one of the best fighters at 140 pounds. I want to regain my titles and win all of the belts. It doesn't matter if it's in a rematch against Taylor, challenging another champion, or in a vacant title match against another top contender. I want my titles back. Jose Pedraza is a tough test. He is a very good fighter and has looked good since he adjusted to the 140-pound division."
Jose Pedraza is getting ready for the match against the former unified champ. He has constructed a scenario in which he is going to fight for a world championship belt. The fighter from Puerto Rico understands that he will require this kind of mindset. This is because he knows that winning over the Californian resident will give him a huge push in the overall direction of a chance at the world title at his weight class. Pedraza has also been a world champion in a different division. He will get into the Jose Ramirez vs. Jose Pedraza match on the back of consecutive victories. He is also at an advantage as his rival is looking to get back from a defeat last year against Josh Taylor in their unification match. Fans of the sport believe that the Jose Ramirez vs. Jose Pedraza fight is a great matchup. They say that this is the best match that can be made at this weight class. Pedraza has now found his footing at this weight class with victories, while his rival needs a big comeback victory.
The victor of the Jose Ramirez vs. Jose Pedraza match will be next in line against Jose Zepeda for the WBC mandatory challenger status. Pedraza said, "The new year will bring a big opportunity to battle against a former world champion like Jose Ramirez. This fight is very important for me because I know this will be the fight that will allow me to win a world title in a third-weight division. There is no space for a loss. Not on my record, and much less in my mind. I know that Ramirez is a great fighter and always comes well prepared. He always comes in shape to give the fans a great fight. It is an important fight since Ramirez was recently a world champion. Beating him is like him beating the world champion. That would put me higher in the rankings, and I see it that way. I view Ramirez as the world champion, with the opportunity being that the next fight would be for the titles.”
He added, “I wouldn't say it's a fight that would define my career. Still, it is important because [Ramirez] was a world champion and an excellent boxer. An opportunity [to fight for a title] will depend on what happens on March 4. We have the title in our sights, and at this point, only the best are left standing on the road to the world championship. March 4 against Ramirez will be an important fight since the winner will be ready to challenge for a world title. That's why I feel like this is a world title match. March 4 against Ramirez, this is all or nothing. Facing a warrior like Ramirez and being part of the historic rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico is important and a great responsibility. At the same time, it's a great thrill to give the fans a legendary match that they will remember forever. I want to put up a great fight. I want to give the fans a war."
Jose Ramirez vs. Jose Pedraza Fight Card
- Jose Ramirez vs. Jose Pedraza, 12 rounds, junior welterweight
- Joet Gonzalez vs. Jeo Santisima, 10 rounds, featherweight
- Richard Torrez Jr vs. TBA, 6 rounds, heavyweight
- Gabriel Flores Jr vs. Abraham Montoya, 10 rounds, junior lightweight
- Karlos Balde vs. TBA, 8 rounds, junior lightweight
- Charlie Sheehy vs. TBA, 4 rounds, lightweight
- Antonio Mireles vs. TBA, 4 rounds, heavyweight
- Javier Martinez vs. TBA, 6 rounds, middleweight