By Ryan Burton

Jose Ramirez (23-0) is very focused on the opponent he will be facing on Sunday night. The hard hitting Jose Zepeda (30-1), who is riding a 7 fight winning streak, will be in the opposite corner of the WBC super lightweight champion.

The fight will headline an ESPN televised doubleheader with former champion Ray Beltran going up against Hiroki Okada in the co-feature bout.

The 26-year-old Ramirez met with the media on Wednesday in Fresno and was asked a variety of questions about his future plans.

Lukie Ketelle of Inside the Ropes asked Ramirez if believed that he may headline a pay-per-view card by the end of the year.

"That is very possible. That would be a great opportunity for me against a guy like (WBA/WBO lightweight champion Vasiliy) Lomachenko or even a guy like (Regis) Prograis at 140 and then for sure 2020 will be the year I decide to move up (to welterweight) and take on guys like (Terence) Crawford and all those guys," said Ramirez.

The Fresno native is a big draw in his hometown.  He has regularly sold over 10,000 tickets at the Save Mart Arena where Sunday night's fight takes place.

If a fight against Lomachenko were to come to fruition, Ramirez believes that they would be able to take that fight to the Fresno State Bulldogs football stadium.

"I think we could definitely bring in 25 or 30 thousand people for that fight. The thing is if Lomachenko is willing to move to 140 for that fight. If not there is Teofimo Lopez that people are hyped about and he says he wants to move to 140 but I want to go after champions like Lomachenko. Guys who have titles. Guys who if I win take me to the next level and not just defend my title," Ramirez explained.

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