Jose Ramirez vs. Viktor Postol Postponed Due to Coronavirus in China

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

With over 400 dead from the new Wuhan Coronavirus, and millions of people in Mainland China wearing masks, Top Rank has postponed its ESPN boxing card scheduled for February 2, 2020, in Haikou, China, featuring the main event bout between World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization World Super Lightweight champion Jose Carlos Ramirez, 25-0 with 17 knockouts, Avenal, California, versus former World Boxing Council World Super Lightweight champion Victor Postol, 31-2, Marina del Rey, California by way of the Ukraine. No boxing cards will be held in China in the foreseeable future until the health crisis pandemic is resolved.

The Wuhan Coronavirus can spread from person to person, and thus could endanger professional boxers, corner persons, ringside officials, and fight fans who planned to travel to the event. A worldwide state of emergency has not yet been declared by the World Health Organization. More information regarding the Wuhan Coronavirus is pending.

Top Rank will need to find a new site and date for the ESPN bout. Both Postol and Ramirez currently train in California, so an alternate venue in California to fight a rescheduled bout possibly could be found. Rick Mirigian, the manager of Ramirez, stages area boxing events in Fresno, California, and also has an interest in adding Ramirez versus Postol to the Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder rematch undercard at MGM Grand on February 22, 2020. Top Rank CEO Brad Jacobs said no to that idea, but his mind could change.

If the ESPN Top Rank Ramirez versus Postol super lightweight world title bout falls off the radar, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association World Super Lightweight champion Josh Taylor, 16-0 with 12 knockouts, Prestonpans, Scotland, United Kingdom, could fight Ramirez instead in a super lightweight titular unification bout.