Jesus Ramos set to defend WBC interim title against Meiirim Nursultanov
Jul 9, 2026 • 4:20 PM ET
Dylan Trevino / Premier Boxing ChampionsJesus Ramos is set to defend his WBC interim middleweight title against the No. 1 ranked Meiirim Nursultanov this September.
Ramos, 24-1 (19 KOs), claimed the interim strap with a unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley Jnr in December. Carlos Adames owns the full version of the WBC’s 160lbs title but there has been ongoing talk of him moving up to 168lbs. While Adames decides in which weight category his future lies, Ramos will care of the mandatory obligations.
The current No. 1 at 160lbs with the WBC is Nursultanov, 20-0 (11 KOs) and from Uzbekistan. Ramos revealed that talks are underway for the contest with an ideal location being back in his home state of Arizona.
“So far we have an opponent, a mandatory in Meiirim Nursultanov,” Ramos told BoxingScene. “He's ranked number one by the WBC, so we have to defend it against him. But we're still working on the details, I know I'm going to [fight] sometime in September. So we're still waiting on the date and venue, but so far September.”
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
