Jose Ramirez will make his welterweight debut in March or April, according to the fighter’s manager, Rick Mirigian.
Ramirez, a 2012 US Olympian who became a unified junior welterweight titleholder, will now set his sights on his next goal: becoming a two-division titleholder.
“We have a hold at the Save Mart Center for Jose to fight,” Mirigian told BoxingScene. “He will go to 147lbs.”
Mirigian emphasized that Ramirez, 29-3 (18 KOs), will be open to any opponents in the division, though none has been discussed thus far.
“As you know, the 147lbs division is shaping up again,” Mirigian said. “Expect a big fight in Fresno, late March or early April, with Jose headlining.”
Ramirez, a 33-year-old from Avenal, California, most recently fought against Devin Haney in May, at a catchweight of 143lbs. He lost the bout, one that was panned for its lack of activity and excitement. Haney went on to defeat Brian Norman Jnr last week to win the WBC welterweight title. Mirigian believes Ramirez, who signed with Golden Boy Promotions in January 2024, is more motivated as he is entering a career-worst two-fight losing streak (defeats against Haney and Arnold Barboza Jnr).
“No disrespect to Haney – he is a very special fighter, and he is one of the best of the generation – but he is not there to fight and engage,” Mirigian said. “Jose didn’t get a chance to fight, he didn’t get a chance to engage, and I think he is very hungry to do so, and to show he has a lot left in the tank.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
