By Keith Idec

Jose Ramirez wants to prove Friday night that he is ready to take his career to the next level.

Despite that he is 18-0 and has 13 knockouts, the 2012 American Olympian doesn’t think he has shown what he truly is capable of doing in a boxing ring. There’s no better time to do that, according to Ramirez, than against Issouf Kinda in a 10-round fight UniMas will televise as the main event of a “Solo Boxeo” broadcast from Fresno State University’s Save Mart Center in Fresno, California (11 p.m. ET).

If 2017 is to become the year Ramirez makes the transition from prospect to legitimate junior welterweight contender, that process needs to begin with an impressive victory over Kinda (18-3, 7 KOs).

“I’m looking forward to really showing my skills, being composed,” Ramirez told BoxingScene.com. “When I’m sparring, I spar against the best and I’m able to counter-punch, box and move, show my speed, show my power. When I watch some of my fight tapes, I feel like there’s so much more I can show in the ring. I did extremely well in the amateurs, fighting fighters who have a lot of talent.

“So I feel like it’s time to really feel composed, feel relaxed and not feel like I have to knock everybody out. I have to show that I’m a next-level type of fighter, that I should be a contender or really fighting for a title eliminator soon or for a world championship. So that’s my goal, to really show my talent, showcase my potential to my promoters at Top Rank, to the fans and to myself, to my team, that I’m ready to take that next step.”

The 24-year-old Ramirez, who’s trained by Freddie Roach, was supposed to battle Gabriel Bracero on Friday night. New York’s Bracero pulled out of the fight about two weeks ago, though, and Kinda agreed to replace him shortly thereafter.

Kinda is 2-3 in his past five fights, yet defeated a previously unbeaten opponent, Zack Ramsey (7-1, 3 KOs), by majority decision in his last bout, a six-rounder May 13 in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Ramirez, of Avenal, California, had hoped a knockout win against Bracero (24-3, 5 KOs) would’ve improved his profile because Bracero has faced former two-division champion Paulie Malignaggi (36-7, 7 KOs) and formidable contender Felix Diaz (18-1, 8 KOs) in two of his past three fights.

“I was training the [previous] four or five weeks for Gabriel Bracero,” Ramirez said. “But it’s been a long training camp, where I had the opportunity to spar a lot of different styles, a lot of different fighters. It shouldn’t be too difficult for me, because I feel like I’m well-prepared to face anybody. I know Kinda’s a little taller than Gabriel, a little longer. But there’s a lot of openings I see in him that matches my style of boxing. I think I should do well.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.