By Miguel Rivera
Jose Ramirez has begun to analyze his ability to fight for a world championship before the close of the year, and without losing focus on Saturday's fight against Tomas Mendez in Leemore, California.
Ramirez will lead the evening for Top Rank at the Tachi Palace in California. The fight is going to be televised by UniMas. He says the hard work of training with Freddie Roach and getting help from world champion Viktor Postol will pay off in his upcoming fight.
"I want to finish the year by fighting for a championship, or at least an eliminator. I think I'm ready, I have the experience. Freddie tells me I'm ready. First I need to win on Saturday and I will focus on what comes," Ramirez said in an interview with ESPN Deportes.
"I think I've matured enough as a boxer, I hope to show all that I've learned from training with the best. The sparring with Postol has made me grow up, I'm happy with my training. Roach has been attentive and he tells me I have the talent, but I lacked the experience and I'm getting to to where he wants me to be."
"As a professional I think I've matured as a boxer, I'm stronger, with more patience, better posture. And personally I am already the father of a baby eight months and have that extra motivation that is needed in this sport, I think I've secured more discipline both inside and outside the ring."
About Tomas Mendez (21-7, 14 KOs), his opponent for Saturday, Ramirez expects a tough fight.
"He's a dangerous fighter, difficult opponent to read, willing to fight and I have to be focused on keeping my guard up high to avoid a big punch. He also has more experience than me, but overall I feel that with this camp that I did - I can win," said the Californian with a record of 17-0 with 12 knockouts.
