I’ll always be the underdog » May 10, 2021

The countdown is on, and WBC/WBO junior welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez is 12 days away from a legacy-defining undisputed showdown in opposition to Josh Taylor, Scotland’s IBF/WBA kingpin. It’s enterprise as ordinary for Ramirez, the 2012 U.S. Olympian from California’s Central Valley who hopes to change into the primary four-belt undisputed champion of Mexican descent. He’s spent the higher a part of two months coaching in Riverside, California, with Robert Garcia, who has guided his profession contained in the ring since after his March 2018 title-winning effort over Amir Imam.

With combat week seven days away, Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs) is the prohibitive underdog for the primary time in his skilled profession, as Taylor (17-0, 13 KOs) is a greater than 2-to-1 favourite at most sportsbooks.

Ramirez is conscious of public notion, but it surely doesn’t faze him as he enters the sixth world title combat of his profession. Taylor earned the celebrated Ring Journal belt together with his October 2019 resolution over Regis Prograis, however on Could 22, the game’s loftiest prize shall be on the road.

As coaching camp winds down, that is what Ramirez needed to say:

“I’ve at all times been the underdog. That’s my mentality. I’m preventing for my place in boxing historical past. No boxer of Mexican descent has ever held all 4 world title belts. I’m conscious that most individuals are choosing in opposition to me, however that solely fuels me additional.”

“In my thoughts, I’m speculated to win this combat. I don’t let the surface noise get to me. It doesn’t matter what you do, or who you beat, there’s at all times going to be anyone else on the market. At this second, that particular person is Josh Taylor.”

“We each wished the combat, and I respect him for taking up the problem. Josh and I are out to make historical past, and I do know I would be the higher man on Could 22.”

“The percentages are what they’re, however the very best junior welterweight, the undisputed champion, shall be topped Could 22.”