Jesus Ramos continues to emerge as a young prospect worthy of your viewing attention.
The unbeaten junior welterweight once again delivered an exceptional performance live on Fox in primetime, the latest coming in a one-sided stoppage of Philadelphia’s Naim Nelson. Ramos scored two knockdowns before forcing Nelson’s corner to stop the contest after four rounds Saturday evening, live on Fox from Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California.
Ramos fought poised well beyond his 19 years of age, a common thread in his promising career. The unbeaten prospect from Casa Grande, Arizona pumped his heavy jab in the opening round, while Nelson fought almost exclusively in reverse and behind a tight guard with little offense coming back in return.
The pattern held true in round two before Ramos picked up the pace in a lopsided round three. Nelson continued to circle around the ring, only to run out of real estate as Ramos invested heavily into a body attack. A series of right hooks and left hands downstairs had Nelson far more mobile than he would have preferred. Ramos scored with a hard left hand in the closing seconds of round three, sending Nelson to the canvas.
Concern came from Nelson’s corner in between rounds, sensing that Ramos was growing in confidence. That observation proved to be right on the money as Ramos emphatically closed the show.
Nelson’s once airtight defense was picked apart by the bigger Ramos in round four, offering next to nothing in return as he was picked apart throughout the frame. Ramos scored his second knockdown of the bout, catching Nelson up top and forcing him to fall into the ropes. Referee Ray Corona issued a count and expressed concern over the amount of punishment he was absorbing along with a cut under his eye caused by a Ramos right hook.
The rest was taken care of by Nelson’s corner, who informed the boxer that he was done for the night. As much was communicated to the ringside inspector and the referee who officially waved off the contest.
Nelson—who landed just 10-of-82 punches (12%)—was only stopped once before, suffering an injury in a 7th round stoppage to Mario Barrios who is now a secondary junior welterweight titlist. The loss sends his record to 14- 5 (1KO).
Ramos landed 47-of-182 total punches and has now stopped each of his last four opponents, including three in 2020. The latest runs his record to 14-0 (13KOs), as he emerges as a prospect to watch in 2021. The bout was his second straight on Fox in primetime, having stopped previously unbeaten Esteban Garcia inside of two rounds this past September.
The bout aired in supporting capacity to a 10-round super middleweight clash between David Morrell (3-0, 2KOs) and Mike Gavronski (26-3-1, 16KOs).
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
