By Jake Donovan
Jose Carlos Ramirez enjoys a huge following in California’s Central Valley virtually unmatched by most United States-based athletes today. However, it’s his next rival and fellow unbeaten titlist Maurice Hooker who will get to play host when they collide.
In a development first reported by Fox Sports boxing insider Mike Coppinger, the pair of undefeated super lightweight title claimants have nearly finalized all terms for a unification clash to take place July 27 live on DAZN. Sources from both camps—whom declined comment as talks technically remain ongoing—have indicated the fight will land at College Park Center on the University of Texas-Arlington campus, home to the WNBA's Dallas Wings and roughly 30 minutes from Hooker’s Dallas hometown.
An announcement is expected in the coming days, which is already slightly beyond its intended reveal. DAZN representatives were premature in advising viewers to expect the fight to be announced during the June 1 show—headlined by Andy Ruiz’s massive upset knockout win over Anthony Joshua to become a unified heavyweight titlist—but nothing came of the development since talks weren’t yet as far along as projected at the time.
The bout will mark the first unification title for either combatant, both of whom claimed their belts in separate bouts in 2018.
Ramirez (24-0, 16KOs) won his belt in a rare fight outside of his Central Valley home region, scoring a 12-round over Amir Imam in their vacant title fight last March at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City. The 2012 U.S. Olympian has made two successful defenses, both coming at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. where he has served as a massive local draw.
In his most recent start, Ramirez scored a majority decision win over Mexico’s Jose Zepeda in a much tougher than expected contest. The event aired live this past February on ESPN, a platform on which he has served as the headlining act for each of his last four starts.
However, manager Rick Mirigian and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum were willing to make a trade in order to secure a title unification bout for the rising star. It meant doing further business with sports streaming service DAZN and Matchroom Boxing USA, whom co-promotes Hooker along with Roc Nation Sports.
Hooker (26-0-3, 17KOs) has not fought at home since a June 2015 knockout win over then-unbeaten Eduardo Galindo back when the Dallas native was still a rising prospect. He’s since hit the road for each of his last nine fights, including truly playing the visiting fighter both in his title winning effort and his first defense.
The unbeaten 29-year old traveled to jolly old England last June, where he scored a hard-fought but well-earned 12-round win over former unbeaten lightweight titlist Terry Flanagan to win a vacant 140-pound title. His first defense came on a Top Rank on ESPN telecast, traveling to the Oklahoma City (Ok.) hometown of unbeaten challenger Alex Saucedo, whom he knocked out in seven rounds last November.
This past March saw Hooker in with his fourth straight undefeated opponent, producing the same result—a win—as he easily turned away the challenge of Mikkel LesPierre. The bout marked Hooker’s debut on DAZN, though coming in supporting capacity to Dmitry Bivol’s light heavyweight title defense in Verona, New York.
His unification clash with Ramirez will serve as his first headliner on the sports streaming platform, which holds prime real estate in the super lightweight division. DAZN also serves as the host to season two of the World Boxing Super Series, whose three separate divisional tournaments includes action at 140 pounds.
Newly crowned unbeaten titlists Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor set to collide in the WBSS finals later this year on DAZN at a location to be determined. It has been strongly suggested by Ramirez’s team that plans are in place for the winners of both unification bouts to collide early in 2020 to create an undisputed super lightweight champion.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
