Josh Taylor, the WBSS Super-Lightweight Muhammad Ali Trophy winner, and IBF & WBA champion faces WBC & WBO champ José Ramirez on May 22.
Scotland’s Josh Taylor (17-0, 13 KOs), the WBSS Super-Lightweight Muhammad Ali Trophy winner and IBF & WBA champion faces USA’s José Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs), the WBC & WBO champ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 22.
The American boxer of Mexican descent turned down an offer to participate in Season II of the WBSS but is now set to collide with Josh Taylor who took home the Ali Trophy after outpointing Regis Prograis in an epic battle at The O2 in London in October 2019.
In August 2020 WBSS Chief Boxing Officer Kalle Sauerland spoke to Taylor about a potential match-up with Rodriguez in ‘Kalle’s WBSS Hangouts’ podcast.
“The Ramirez fight, I would love for that to be in Scotland,” said Taylor. “In the summer on a nice night either at Easter Road (home ground of Hibernian) or up in Edinburgh Castle on the esplanade. An iconic night for Scotland and boxing history …
“But if I have to go to America …Vegas MGM Grand or fight in the Madison Square Garden in New York, I’m not bothered. When I was younger I dreamed about seeing my name in the bright lights in MGM Grand.”
Josh Taylor is highly confident that he will unify the titles and become undisputed.
“My intention is to take it out of the judges’ hands. Go in there and dominate him, hurt him, drop him, and if it goes to points there is no question who’s the winner. That’s the goal of what I have to do.”
“I think he is an easier fight than Prograis. He is a much easier target. He is much more hurtable – Prograis had rapid head movements. Ramirez is physically stronger, but he is right there to be hit, he is one-dimensional. If he stands and tries to have a war, I will hurt him, bang him on the chin, and put him on his back.”