The fans in attendance at The Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas were treated to an action- packed fight where Scotland’s Josh Taylor (18-0, 13 KOs) was favored by all three of the judges’ scorecards (114-112), winning a unanimous decision against fellow olympian Jose Ramirez (26-1, 17 KOs).
It was a fast-paced exhibition of skill, speed, and well-timed adjustment where Taylor was able to score a knockdown in the 6th and 7th round, massively contributing to his victory that awarded him the exclusivity of becoming only the 6th boxer in history to be an undisputed four-belt champion.
Ramirez started off strong, showing his partiality to aggressive body work and claiming a significant portion of the fight’s momentum. Round four saw Ramirez effectively going to the body, causing Taylor to drop his hands often and allow for Ramirez to follow up with masterful combinations. Yet, Taylor never retreated and continued to attack, come forward, and capitalize on the crucial moments where Ramirez showed weakness.
It was the second knockdown in round 7 that may have solidified Ramirez’s undesirable fate. The clean uppercut landed by Taylor caught Ramirez in a moment of ill-timed ease, further preventing the chance for Ramirez to come out on top. Instead of adjusting by going back to the jab and fainting, Ramirez opted to square up to the southpaw and walk right into the onslaught of Taylor’s offense.
Taylor’s speed overwhelmed Ramirez significantly, causing his movements to become lethargic and fatigued as the rounds went on, not allowing him to fully execute his game plan. Taylor was able to counter effectively, utilize his footwork, and endure the hard shots by Ramirez without ever losing composure.
Ultimately, Taylor was able to make the better adjustments. He used his jab early, fought an excellent inside game, created distance when necessary, and countered successfully. He has become the first Scottish boxer to win all four belts in the division, deservedly earning the recognition of being the best junior welterweight boxer in the world.
Both fighters showed class after the fight, offering words of encouragement to one another. In Taylor’s post fight interview, he said, “I’ve got nothing but love for Ramirez. This week was no disrespect, it was all just part of the mind games to get inside his head.” Speaking about Taylor, Ramirez responded, “I’m a man of faith and God teaches us to forgive so I forgave him for what he’s said, and in the future I’d like to fight him again.”
If a rematch is granted and is anything like this first meeting, it would prove to the world that boxing still can be like the old days, full of grit and tests of skill, endurance, and heart.
