JOSH Taylor is ready to grant Jose Ramirez his wish and agree to a one-off showdown to become the undisputed super lightweight champion of the world at either Edinburgh Castle or Madison Square Garden.
The American, who first plans to defend his WBC and WBO super lightweight titles against Taylor’s old adversary Viktor Postol in February, wasted little time in laying down the gauntlet to the Scot after his bravura points win over Regis Prograis at the o2 on Saturday night which saw him win the Ali Trophy for the World Boxing Super Series winner and add the WBA and Ring Magazine belts to his IBF title.
Ramirez, who declined to enter the WBSS, claimed on Twitter it was part of God’s plan for him to become undisputed champion at this weight category – with his manager Rick Mirigan also dining in on the subject. “A super fight has been born with 150 pound King @RAMIREZBOXING and @JoshTaylorBoxer for 2020!" tweeted Mirigan. "@EddieHearn has most likely signed him as I type this.”
Hearn, whose Matchroom stable played a huge role in publicising Saturday’s WBSS final, indicated during the week his desire to see Taylor defend his titles instead against Newcastle’s Lewis Ritson in front of a 60,000 sell-out St James’ Park crowd but Taylor is determined that the next time he enters the ring will be a date with destiny against Ramirez in September/October time next year.
“Well, he can get it,” said Taylor when Ramirez’s comments were directly put to him in the afterglow of victory. “I believe that’s an easier fight than Prograis. I really do. It’s more straightforward.
“I’ve only spoken to Ramirez once, back at the World Championships in Baku in 2011,” he added. “I was meant to box Lomachenko or something but we had a chat and that was it.
"But I’ve had him in my sights for a while. If this tournament hadn’t come around, I would have fought him by now."
"The Ramirez fight is massive and I don’t mind it being in America. I would take my Scottish support with me. But I would love it to be in Scotland, either at Edinburgh Castle or Easter Road. Either would be an iconic setting. The only issue is it might be a beautiful Scottish summer’s day – pouring down with rain!
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