Weigh-In Results: Jose Ramirez vs. Josh Taylor

TOMORROW at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas

 

Taylor vs. Ramirez, Zepeda vs. Hank Lundy Vegas ESPN Preview

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 

Las Vegas, NV (May 22, 2021)– Top Rank USA ESPN, ESPN + and ESPN Deportes will present an exciting eight bout card of professional boxing at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday evening, May 22, 2021, featuring two important titular bouts in the super lightweight / junior welterweight division.

In the 12 round world super lightweight title unification main event, Josh Taylor, 17-0 with 13 knockouts, Haddington, Scotland, United Kingdom, will face Jose Carlos Ramirez, 26-0 with 17 knockouts, Avenal, United Kingdom. Ramirez is favored to win by unanimous or split decision over 12 rounds in what will either prove to be a slugfest or a technical war. Ramirez could also win the bout on cuts of technical decision, depending on how bruising and bloody the bout will emerge. The World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization, and International Boxing Federation titles will unify to the winner, making a draw unlikely. This could turn out to be a bloody and ugly scrap.

In the World Boxing Council Silver Super Lightweight title bout scheduled for 10 rounds as the preliminary to the main event, Jose Zepeda, 33-2 with 26 knockouts, will face Henry Lundy, 31-8-1 with 14 knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lundy, who was in training for Mason Menard, and Zepeda, who was in training for Pedro Campas, will fight each other instead. Menard pulled out of the Lundy bout, while Campas was deemed an unacceptable opponent by the Zepeda camp. The full story for fighters pulling out is never quick revealed. What is known is Zepeda is not in for an easy time of it with Lundy, but it depends which version of the hot and Hammerin’ Hank Lundy shows up.

Zepeda has won 10 round decisions over Jose Pedraza and Kenji Castaneda, and knocked out Ivan Baranchyk in five rounds. On the other hand, Zepeda has been able to beat Eleazar Valenzuela, Jose Alfaro, Jose Carlos Ramirez (with whom he wants a rematch), and Terry Flanagan. Lundy might be startled by the sterile pandemic proceedings, and the glitz and glitter of fighting in Las Vegas for the first time. Lundy must establish himself as the aggressor and control the ring and the tempo of the fight with superior ring generalship. If not, Zepeda is just going to try to outwork Lundy and win rounds. This fight will go down to a close or majority 10 round decision. If Lundy can stay busier and dominate the CompuBox punch count and keep the pressure of Zepeda, Lundy can walk him down and outpoint him no matter the size of the ring. A cautious fight benefits Zepeda, who will just try to defeat Lundy on technical skill. While both men are in condition, neither has truly prepared for the other as this was a three week fight camp matched between two fighters already in camp for other opponents, so the odds are about even. Zepeda is the favored fight, but then again, it all depends which version of Hank Lundy shows up. The winner of this bout could get the winner of Taylor versus Ramirez, and this Lundy’s last shot at a world title if he wins. This is a fantastic opportunity bout for both competitors, and knockdown fireworks could make this the fight of the night if Lundy goes for broke.

 Undercard Bout Predictions on the ESPN Card

 ESPN + Preliminary Bout

 Elvis Rodriguez Win 8 Kenneth Sims Jr., Super Lightweights

11-0-1 Dominican fighter Rodriguez favored over 15-2-1 Chicago fighter “Bossman” Sims

 Jose Enrique Durantes Vivas Win 8 Luis Coria, Super Featherweights

20-1 Mexican American Vivas favored by decision. 12-4 Californian opponent Coria has never beaten a fighter with a winning record and has only won three of his last six bouts.

 Raymond Muratalla Win 8 Jose Gallegos, Lightweights

In an All-California battle, 11-0 prospect Muratalla faces rough tough 20-10 vet Gallegos.

 Andres Cortes Win 8 Eduardo Garza, Lightweights

13-0 Las Vegas prospect Cortes in a for a ansty scrap with 15-3-1 Texas fighter Garza.

 Robeisy Ramirez Win Majority Decision 6 Ryan Lee Allen, Featherweights

Cuban 2012 Olympic Flyweight Gold medalist Ramirez, faces “Stone” Allen of Las Vegas.

 

Javier Martinez Win 6 Calvin Metcalf, Middleweights

David McWaters 3-0 Wisconsin prospect Martinez faces 10-5-1 Missouri veteran Metcalf

 • CLICK HERE for PHOTOS
Credit: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images)• CLICK HERE for VIDEO(ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT)    •    Jose Ramirez 139.6 lbs vs. Josh Taylor 139.6 lbs 
(Undisputed Junior Welterweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Judges: Tim Cheatham, Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld
Referee: Kenny Bayless•          Jose Zepeda 140 lbs vs. Hank Lundy 139 lbs 
(Junior Welterweight— 10 Rounds)

•          Elvis Rodriguez 139.8 lbs vs. Kenneth Sims Jr. 139.8 lbs 
(Junior Welterweight— 8 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 4:45 p.m. ET / 1:45 p.m. PT)

•   Jose Enrique Vivas 127.4 lbs vs. Louie Coria 127.5 lbs 
(Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

•         Andres Cortes 132.2 lbs vs. Eduardo Garza  132.5
(Junior Lightweight  — 8 Rounds)

   •   Robeisy Ramirez 126.6 lbs vs. Ryan Allen 125.4
(Featherweight   — 6 Rounds)

•       Raymond Muratalla 137 lbs vs. Jose Gallegos 139.6
(Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

•      Javier Martinez 162.5 lbs vs. Calvin Metcalf 160.4
(Middleweight — 6 Rounds)
Event Name: Ramirez vs. Taylor — Weigh-in
Date: Friday, May 21, 2021
Link to Images on Getty: CLICK HEREFor any concerns or questions regarding how Getty operates, please contact our Getty Images representative Mark Awad at [email protected] or [email protected] for assistance.

 CLICK HERE for Photos 
Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images

CLICK HERE to watch the Press Conference

LAS VEGAS (May 20, 2021) — Nobody’s hat was stolen. No brawl broke out. WBC/WBO champion Jose Ramirez and WBA/IBF champion Josh Taylor were all business Thursday at the final press conference for Saturday’s undisputed junior welterweight world title showdown at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs) and Taylor (17-0, 13 KOs) are fighting, not only to maintain their unbeaten records, but to become the sixth man to attain undisputed status in the four-belt era. For the first time since the matchup was officially announced nearly three months ago, the two best 140-pound fighters in the world were face to face. A little good-natured trash talk followed. But that’s to be expected.




Two days before the fight, this is what Taylor, Ramirez and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum had to say.

Bob Arum

“I’m very excited. Now at the end of this pandemic, we have the best fight of the whole pandemic experience. We don’t have to sell anything about this fight. We just mention the fighters. They are both undefeated, both former Olympians, both world champions. This will be a great fight!”

“With Jose as a fighter, you have seen his accomplishments, but I’m more impressed with the man he is outside of the ring. I’m proud of Jose.”

Jose Ramirez

“It’s an honor for me to face a great fighter like Taylor. This will be the best fight of the year.”

“He is very prideful of his country and I respect that. That’s the way a champion should be.”

“This has been a great training camp. I’m very motivated. It will be an honor and a blessing to make history as the first Mexican undisputed champion.”

“I believe a fighter like Taylor will bring out the best in me. He is a technical fighter, and when you face a fighter like that, you see everything clearly. You will see all the small things that I have worked on and that will show the experience I have as a fighter. You will see all my skills, and I will put on a show against a great fighter.”

“I’ve never been a fan of opinions of who is the best fighter out there. Sometimes people don’t understand that especially at this level, each fight is going to be tough. I always train like I’m the underdog. I always train like each fight is the biggest fight of my career. I can’t afford to lose. That’s always been my mentality. I always find a way to win.”




Josh Taylor

“I loved every single minute of camp in Las Vegas. Felt great to be back to normal.”

“I respect every fighter that jumps in the ring. You don’t become a unified champion out of anywhere. You have to be a great fighter. I highly respect him. He is a great fighter and a great person, but on Saturday night, as soon as that bell rings, all that goes out the window”

“This fight means the world to me. Puts my name in the history books as one of the {best} Scottish fighters in history. That’s why I have trained so hard for this fight. I dedicated my whole life to the sport. I’m so confident. This is a pure boxing fight.”

“I’m confident I’m getting the KO on Saturday.”

SATURDAY, May 22, 2021

ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

Jose Ramirez vs. Josh Taylor, 12 rounds, Undisputed Junior Welterweight World Title

Jose Zepeda vs. Hank Lundy, 10 rounds, junior welterweight

Elvis Rodriguez vs. Kenneth Sims Jr., 8 rounds, junior welterweight

ESPN+, 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT

Jose Enrique Vivas vs. Louie Coria, 8 rounds, featherweight

Andres Cortes vs. Eduardo Garza, 8 rounds, junior lightweight

Robeisy Ramirez vs. Ryan Lee Allen, 6 rounds, featherweight

Raymond Muratalla vs. Jose Gallegos, 8 rounds, lightweight

Javier Martinez vs. Calvin Metcalf, 6 rounds, middleweight

MMA Odds

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