A mouth-watering light-welterweight unification bout is set to take place on 22nd May as WBC and WBO champion José Ramírez (26–0, 17 KOs) is going head-on against WBA (Super) and IBF titleholder Josh Taylor (17–0, 13 KOs) in Las Vegas.
All four belts of the two fighters will be on the line, and the winner takes all to become the undisputed at 140 pounds.
The news of the fight was first reported by Mike Coppinger of The Athletic. Later, Top Rank Boxing themselves confirmed the same on Twitter.
Look forward to making history: José Ramírez has his eye on becoming the first undisputed Mexican champion
A former WBC Continental Americas light welterweight titleholder, José Ramírez has had the coveted green and gold belt around his all the way back since March 2018, winning the vacant title against Amir Imam.
Since then, the Mexican has marked five successful title defense, and while defending his WBC belt for the third time in July 2019 against Maurice Hooker, Ramírez also grabbed the WBO title with a 6th round TKO victory.
He then again defended both of his belts against Viktor Postol in August last year at the MGM Grand Conference Center, before setting his gaze at the undisputed crown and wants to become the first Mexican to have all four boxing titles ornamenting his name, something that has also been in the mind of Canelo Alvarez.
“I look forward to making history by becoming the first boxer of Mexican descent to hold all four major world title belts,” a confident Ramírez told after the announcement of the fight.
“I dedicate this fight to the Central Valley farm workers, who are out there every day helping feed the world. This fight is big, but nothing is bigger than getting vaccinations to the farm workers right now in the Central Valley,” the 28-year-old added.
Biggest fight of my career: Josh Taylor has just one hurdle before achieving his ‘dream’
Coming off of a rich amateur career, Josh Taylor moved into professional boxing in 2015 and has been a rising sensation in the United Kingdom. A Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallist, the Scot has formerly held the Commonwealth and WBC Silver light-welterweight titles.
In May 2019, Taylor earned his IBF title with a unanimous victory over Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow. Within five months, he defended the title, as well as won the WBA (Super) belt against Regis Prograis in October 2019 in London.
The southpaw was last seen in action in September last year, defending both of his titles against Apinun Khongsong, marking a quick first round knockout win over the Thai contender.
However, ahead of Taylor lies the grandest challenge of his career, which he terms as his ‘biggest fight’ as well as the ‘dream’ to become the undisputed champion.
“I’m excited it’s been finalized and over the line. I can’t wait to get in there for the biggest fight of my career. Fighting for the undisputed title is something all boxers dream about,” the 30-year-old said. (H/T Bad Left Hook)
