Josh Taylor vs. Jose Ramirez - 22 May 2021

[Ruthless-RKO]

BLH Predictions

Scott Christ (34-9-2)

This is a matchup that should bring the best out of both, and while Ramirez has struggled against an opponent Taylor pretty solidly beat, Viktor Postol doesn’t fight like Taylor or Ramirez. Postol’s strategy and skills worked better against Ramirez than they did Postol, but it’s not like Taylor has been a flawless force of nature in every fight, either. Regis Prograis pushed him very hard, and to be fair Jose Zepeda gave Ramirez a good run, too.

I think it’s generally accepted or believed that Taylor is a nice but not overwhelming favorite in this matchup, and that he deserves coming in to be considered the No. 1 guy at 140 if you’re doing rankings and whatnot. But I think Ramirez is really dangerous here, and I have some worry that Taylor may have gotten ahead of himself in some ways. There’s an arrogance to Taylor that Ramirez simply doesn’t have; I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing, but if Taylor has started to believe his own hype, Ramirez is the type of guy who can reality check him.

That said, even if that’s the case, Taylor might adjust in-fight if things go poorly early, and still come out on top. This isn’t 50/50 to me, I think it’s about 60/40 Taylor, but I’m going with Jose Ramirez. I think we’re going to see the very best of him. Taylor is a terrific fighter, but generally speaking, even the best fighters have nights where it gets away from them. Ramirez UD-12

Wil Esco (35-8-2)

This is no time for me to hop off the Josh Taylor hype train but I will admit that I do think this is a very good matchup that won’t be a blow out by any means. Jose Ramirez is a tough, rugged fighter who likes to work on the inside but the difference in this particular matchup is versatility — with Josh Taylor just having more than Ramirez. I think Taylor is a good inside fighter who can largely match Ramirez’s efforts at close range but I think he’s also a much better outside fighter which is going to provide Taylor with more scoring opportunities.

Taylor has a bit of a nasty streak in him which is evident as he can be drawn into exchanges (and his defense isn’t the best which often makes for good action sequences), but I still think he’ll be able to bite down enough to go even with Ramirez up close and edge him at range. Taylor will likely take some bumps and bruises along the way but unless Ramirez scores a stoppage I think Taylor should be able to win this fight on points, which is exactly where I’m going with it. Taylor MD-12

Patrick L. Stumberg (35-8-2)

Undisputed clashes don’t get much better than this; two belts per side, each acquired against top-flight competition and held by profoundly entertaining finishers. Just because it’s well-matched and competitive doesn’t necessarily mean the outcome’s in doubt, though, and Taylor looks like he’s got this one. His punches seem markedly faster and tighter than Ramirez’s, and seeing as he’s traded close-range leather with the likes of Ivan Baranchyk and Regis Prograis without flinching, I don’t see Ramirez’s pressure or power throwing “The Tartan Tornado” off his game.

Anything can happen when there’s this much leather getting thrown around, of course, but Taylor’s just a little too sharp and battle-tested to succumb to Ramirez’s onslaught. After 12 rounds of winning cleanly at range and edging out the inevitable deluge of phone-booth slugfests, Josh Taylor will be 2021’s first four-belt champion. Taylor UD-12

And the staff winner is...

Josh Taylor (2-1)!

[ironbeard]

It is REALLY harsh how under the radar this fight is. Two great warriors and fine boxers putting everything on the line in their prime against the very best that can be found in their class.

They have both done everything right. They both represent their heritages proudly and humbly. It is not possible for me to put into words how much I appreciate these two young warriors, nor how fired up I am to witness their battle.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It is REALLY harsh how under the radar this fight is. Two great warriors and fine boxers putting everything on the line in their prime against the very best that can be found in their class.

They have both done everything right. They both represent their heritages proudly and humbly. It is not possible for me to put into words how much I appreciate these two young warriors, nor how fired up I am to witness their battle.

I wonder if ITV or Channel 5 tried getting it.

We all now it was probably Arum asking for too much money from UK broadcasters

[maverick23]

And the “1” is courtesy of Terrence Crawford.

It really amazes me how undervalued Taylor is (not here, but wider). It’s painful to think the most significant non-heavyweight fight a UK fighter has had in years is buried away on Fite.TV.

It shows how important it is to have a proper U.K. promoter behind you if you want recognition over here.

All his early fights were on ch5, he was matched perfectly coming up in good fights so would have been seen by millions of people but that doesn’t translate anymore to being well known.

Barry Mcguigan matched him well but didn’t promote him too well and since then he’s been all over the place from a TV network point of view. Fighting on ch5, then YouTube, then Sky, then Box Office, then BT and now Fite doesn’t help him. He made the right call going with Bob to get this fight with Ramirez and then potentially Crawford but he should have mandated in his contract something about getting a fixed U.K. broadcast partner so they can push his fights and promote him over here.

I asked my causal mates if they were watching this fight a couple of days ago and a couple of them didn’t know who Taylor was. Yet they wanted to know when Conor Benn was next fighting and what’s happening with AJ/Fury being called off.

Exactly the same as me. They don't know boxing exists outside of Sky and Matchroom.

I was on the BBC sports site earlier - not a hint of the fight on the main BBC sports homepage. Yet they had articles about Bellator, Swimming and Fencing on there with the only boxing article being about Fury/Wilder/AJ.

Does anyone know if it’s getting loads of coverage in the US? I also don’t get why it’s being fought in Vegas in front of 1,000 fans. Haney’s fight next week has sold 4,000 in Vegas and then various other states would have allowed much bigger gates. Could this not have drawn 20,000 in Texas? Or California?

[maverick23]

It is REALLY harsh how under the radar this fight is. Two great warriors and fine boxers putting everything on the line in their prime against the very best that can be found in their class.

They have both done everything right. They both represent their heritages proudly and humbly. It is not possible for me to put into words how much I appreciate these two young warriors, nor how fired up I am to witness their battle.

I wonder if ITV or Channel 5 tried getting it.

We all now it was probably Arum asking for too much money from UK broadcasters

Long term it would have been much better for Josh/Top Rank giving it away for free to ITV, Sky or BT than the £75k or so they’ll get from Fite TV.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It shows how important it is to have a proper U.K. promoter behind you if you want recognition over here.

All his early fights were on ch5, he was matched perfectly coming up in good fights so would have been seen by millions of people but that doesn’t translate anymore to being well known.

Barry Mcguigan matched him well but didn’t promote him too well and since then he’s been all over the place from a TV network point of view. Fighting on ch5, then YouTube, then Sky, then Box Office, then BT and now Fite doesn’t help him. He made the right call going with Bob to get this fight with Ramirez and then potentially Crawford but he should have mandated in his contract something about getting a fixed U.K. broadcast partner so they can push his fights and promote him over here.

I asked my causal mates if they were watching this fight a couple of days ago and a couple of them didn’t know who Taylor was. Yet they wanted to know when Conor Benn was next fighting and what’s happening with AJ/Fury being called off.

Exactly the same as me. They don't know boxing exists outside of Sky and Matchroom.

I was on the BBC sports site earlier - not a hint of the fight on the main BBC sports homepage. Yet they had articles about Bellator, Swimming and Fencing on there with the only boxing article being about Fury/Wilder/AJ.

Does anyone know if it’s getting loads of coverage in the US? I also don’t get why it’s being fought in Vegas in front of 1,000 fans. Haney’s fight next week has sold 4,000 in Vegas and then various other states would have allowed much bigger gates. Could this not have drawn 20,000 in Texas? Or California?

Then you have Sky Sports website who are too concerned in covering Jake Paul and Christopher Lovejoy..

As soon as the fights over, we will surely see an article on BBC and Sky regarding the winner.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[ironbeard]

I was watching the DAZN boxing analysts’ weekly show yesterday. They had Froch on. Not a word about Taylor v Ramirez. NOT...ONE...WORD.

I get that they aren’t “DAZN fighters” but it does no platform any good if they do not acknowledge great clashes. It makes them look petty and ignorant.

They spent time arguing about whether SOGgy was as unbeatable at 168 as RJJ. They talked about David Benavides. They vomited about the HW soap opera.

Not one word about the historic fight staring them in the face.

They must have ordered them to ignore it, IMO. I won’t be watching anything but the fights, with volume off, going forward on DAZN.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I was watching the DAZN boxing analysts’ weekly show yesterday. They had Froch on. Not a word about Taylor v Ramirez. NOT...ONE...WORD.

I get that they aren’t “DAZN fighters” but it does no platform any good if they do not acknowledge great clashes. It makes them look petty and ignorant.

They must have ordered them to ignore it, IMO. I won’t be watching anything but the fights, with volume off, going forward on DAZN.

It's not like DAZN have got a card that clashes with it..

[emallini]

Josh Taylor: Where does he rank among Scotland's boxing greats? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/57190638

[ShadrachSimmo]

Old Terry Flannigan seems a strange and distant memory these days doesn’t he ?
Well no matter how you spin it, Josh has certainly fought the better fighter, and that’s the man from New Orleans; twice the Scotsman has looked early on like the big step up opponent was going to be too strong for him, and twice he adjusted and came back to win - that says a huge amount about him.

He should win on Saturday, as he holds the aces ( though crucially perhaps, not home advantage ) but the unassuming and rockhard Mexican makes me very nervous, just the type of overlooked, never say die fighter who’s gonna upset the best laid plans..

No way he stops Josh, but he might grind out a points win, if you like those odds ..

But I’m going for Josh to again find a way to win, when he finds things on the brink late on, and grabs a close decision.

In the early rounds vs Prograis I thought there’s no way he’s beating this dude he’s too smooth. But by halfway the fight had flipped and Taylor had adjusted and settled as you said. It’s the mark of a really good fighter to be able to do that against a quality operator like Prograis.

[maverick23]

Old Terry Flannigan seems a strange and distant memory these days doesn’t he ?
Well no matter how you spin it, Josh has certainly fought the better fighter, and that’s the man from New Orleans; twice the Scotsman has looked early on like the big step up opponent was going to be too strong for him, and twice he adjusted and came back to win - that says a huge amount about him.

He should win on Saturday, as he holds the aces ( though crucially perhaps, not home advantage ) but the unassuming and rockhard Mexican makes me very nervous, just the type of overlooked, never say die fighter who’s gonna upset the best laid plans..

No way he stops Josh, but he might grind out a points win, if you like those odds ..

But I’m going for Josh to again find a way to win, when he finds things on the brink late on, and grabs a close decision.

In the early rounds vs Prograis I thought there’s no way he’s beating this dude he’s too smooth. But by halfway the fight had flipped and Taylor had adjusted and settled as you said. It’s the mark of a really good fighter to be able to do that against a quality operator like Prograis.

Yeah - I was exactly the same watching the Prograis fight. He did extremely well adapting against a top fighter.

[margaret thatcher]

Josh Taylor: Where does he rank among Scotland's boxing greats? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/57190638

where is our boi ewey? he called me a troll for saying that josh already ranks above scott harrison

[handsofstone]

I says before Taylor was even Commonwealth champ that he would go on to be Scotland's greatest ever boxer and TBH I think he already is

[ironbeard]

Old Terry Flannigan seems a strange and distant memory these days doesn’t he ?
Well no matter how you spin it, Josh has certainly fought the better fighter, and that’s the man from New Orleans; twice the Scotsman has looked early on like the big step up opponent was going to be too strong for him, and twice he adjusted and came back to win - that says a huge amount about him.

He should win on Saturday, as he holds the aces ( though crucially perhaps, not home advantage ) but the unassuming and rockhard Mexican makes me very nervous, just the type of overlooked, never say die fighter who’s gonna upset the best laid plans..

No way he stops Josh, but he might grind out a points win, if you like those odds ..

But I’m going for Josh to again find a way to win, when he finds things on the brink late on, and grabs a close decision.

In the early rounds vs Prograis I thought there’s no way he’s beating this dude he’s too smooth. But by halfway the fight had flipped and Taylor had adjusted and settled as you said. It’s the mark of a really good fighter to be able to do that against a quality operator like Prograis.

Yeah - I was exactly the same watching the Prograis fight. He did extremely well adapting against a top fighter.

...and Prograis failed to do the same.

[KiwiRider]

It is REALLY harsh how under the radar this fight is. Two great warriors and fine boxers putting everything on the line in their prime against the very best that can be found in their class.

They have both done everything right. They both represent their heritages proudly and humbly. It is not possible for me to put into words how much I appreciate these two young warriors, nor how fired up I am to witness their battle.

It chook's me to the bunghole that casuals and dildos on here are wasting their time talking about Wifebeater Jr and Jake Paul when this fight is happening.

[KiwiRider]

Old Terry Flannigan seems a strange and distant memory these days doesn’t he ?
Well no matter how you spin it, Josh has certainly fought the better fighter, and that’s the man from New Orleans; twice the Scotsman has looked early on like the big step up opponent was going to be too strong for him, and twice he adjusted and came back to win - that says a huge amount about him.

He should win on Saturday, as he holds the aces ( though crucially perhaps, not home advantage ) but the unassuming and rockhard Mexican makes me very nervous, just the type of overlooked, never say die fighter who’s gonna upset the best laid plans..

No way he stops Josh, but he might grind out a points win, if you like those odds ..

But I’m going for Josh to again find a way to win, when he finds things on the brink late on, and grabs a close decision.

In the early rounds vs Prograis I thought there’s no way he’s beating this dude he’s too smooth. But by halfway the fight had flipped and Taylor had adjusted and settled as you said. It’s the mark of a really good fighter to be able to do that against a quality operator like Prograis.

Yeah - I was exactly the same watching the Prograis fight. He did extremely well adapting against a top fighter.

He showed us that prior in the Postol fight. Taylor adjusted in R5 and took control. I think that is when a lot of us on here (going by the RBR) had our eyes opened to what was a new great fighter.
Taylor was moved up so hard and fast he had to adapt.

[Counter-puncher]

Old Terry Flannigan seems a strange and distant memory these days doesn’t he ?
Well no matter how you spin it, Josh has certainly fought the better fighter, and that’s the man from New Orleans; twice the Scotsman has looked early on like the big step up opponent was going to be too strong for him, and twice he adjusted and came back to win - that says a huge amount about him.

He should win on Saturday, as he holds the aces ( though crucially perhaps, not home advantage ) but the unassuming and rockhard Mexican makes me very nervous, just the type of overlooked, never say die fighter who’s gonna upset the best laid plans..

No way he stops Josh, but he might grind out a points win, if you like those odds ..

But I’m going for Josh to again find a way to win, when he finds things on the brink late on, and grabs a close decision.

In the early rounds vs Prograis I thought there’s no way he’s beating this dude he’s too smooth. But by halfway the fight had flipped and Taylor had adjusted and settled as you said. It’s the mark of a really good fighter to be able to do that against a quality operator like Prograis.

Yeah - I was exactly the same watching the Prograis fight. He did extremely well adapting against a top fighter.

I may be remembering wrong but IIRC I think I had Prograis winning the last 2 rounds. I recall them both being very competitive at least. Taylor got better after the first 3 or 4 but he hardly turned it round to the point where Prograis somehow lacked the ability to adapt in the same way (at least that’s what one poster is saying) I think I had it even in rounds. I didn’t quite see Taylor separating him self in the second half of the fight as many seem to. To me that fight said they are as close to neck and neck as it gets and if they fought ten times neither dude wins more than 6. Maybe that’s just me, on the night I didn’t think it would be a crazy call to give it Prograis 115-113.

[maverick23]

In the early rounds vs Prograis I thought there’s no way he’s beating this dude he’s too smooth. But by halfway the fight had flipped and Taylor had adjusted and settled as you said. It’s the mark of a really good fighter to be able to do that against a quality operator like Prograis.

Yeah - I was exactly the same watching the Prograis fight. He did extremely well adapting against a top fighter.

I may be remembering wrong but IIRC I think I had Prograis winning the last 2 rounds. I recall them both being very competitive at least. Taylor got better after the first 3 or 4 but he hardly turned it round to the point where Prograis somehow lacked the ability to adapt in the same way (at least that’s what one poster is saying) I think I had it even in rounds. I didn’t quite see Taylor separating him self in the second half of the fight as many seem to. To me that fight said they are as close to neck and neck as it gets and if they fought ten times neither dude wins more than 6. Maybe that’s just me, on the night I didn’t think it would be a crazy call to give it Prograis 115-113.

I had Taylor 1 up at the end of the fight but I remember thinking at the end of either round 3 or 4 that Prograis is too good and he’ll run away with it.

Taylor didn’t dominate the second half of the fight but he won it and won the fight for me which I didn’t would happen after the opening rounds.

[KiwiRider]

The current voting on Fite TV is 94% Taylor, 6% Ramirez.
So many people saying 50/50 fight

[Ruthless-RKO]

The current voting on Fite TV is 94% Taylor, 6% Ramirez.
So many people saying 50/50 fight

Obvs UK fans, or people picking who they want to win. Not who they think’ll win.

[ironbeard]

In the early rounds vs Prograis I thought there’s no way he’s beating this dude he’s too smooth. But by halfway the fight had flipped and Taylor had adjusted and settled as you said. It’s the mark of a really good fighter to be able to do that against a quality operator like Prograis.

Yeah - I was exactly the same watching the Prograis fight. He did extremely well adapting against a top fighter.

I may be remembering wrong but IIRC I think I had Prograis winning the last 2 rounds. I recall them both being very competitive at least. Taylor got better after the first 3 or 4 but he hardly turned it round to the point where Prograis somehow lacked the ability to adapt in the same way (at least that’s what one poster is saying) I think I had it even in rounds. I didn’t quite see Taylor separating him self in the second half of the fight as many seem to. To me that fight said they are as close to neck and neck as it gets and if they fought ten times neither dude wins more than 6. Maybe that’s just me, on the night I didn’t think it would be a crazy call to give it Prograis 115-113.

That would be me C-P.

The difference in the fight was JT’s superior ability to adjust, IMO. I believe that Prograis essentially admitted as much in an interview, although he still believes that he did enough to win.

[Counter-puncher]

Ok but if there’s a case Prograis won the last couple of rounds, which is how I remember it ( ), then Prograis did some adapting too. I’d have to watch it again, which wouldn’t be any trial anyway.

[a force]

I can’t remember how I got there exactly but I had it to Taylor 116-112. Taylor adapted after the first 4 rounds & pushed Prograis back & worked him on the inside.

If I remember right Prograis got back into the fight in the last couple but I think a lot of that was down to Taylor having a really bad swelling to his eye & not been able to see out of it.

[Counter-puncher]

I can’t remember how I got there exactly but I had it to Taylor 116-112. Taylor adapted after the first 4 rounds & pushed Prograis back & worked him on the inside.

If I remember right Prograis got back into the fight in the last couple but I think a lot of that was down to Taylor having a really bad swelling to his eye & not been able to see out of it.

Ah yes good point on the swelling i did think I recalled Taylor being hampered somehow late on