Las Vegas, Nevada May 22nd, 2021- There are few moments in any sport that can match the feeling of crowning an undisputed fighting champion. Crowning the literal best, cementing the impression that a man has no rival in his division is such a rarity that its only happened six times in the four-belt era.
Jose Ramirez 26-1 17KOs of Avenal, California and Josh Taylor 18-0 13KOs of Edinburgh, Scotland met after the entire 140 pound division fought it out to determine the best of the best. A feat almost unheard of in this era with sides of the promotional street and the idiocies of social media.
After what felt like months of little promotion and over shadowing by lesser events; the two came face to face in Las Vegas for a testy fight week.
After the opening bell and two rounds of feeling each other out, Ramirez’s motor got going with body work and pressure to put Taylor on the back-foot.
Taylor landed a big left hand in the sixth round that put Ramirez down to turn the tide of the fight. Ramirez beat the count and got to his feet but couldn’t maintain the pressure he showed in previous rounds.
WE HAVE OUR FIRST KNOCKDOWN!@JoshTaylorBoxer puts down Ramirez in the opening seconds of Round 6 with a big left upstairs.#RamirezTaylor | LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/snfwmLkfpW
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 23, 2021
In the seventh round a huge left uppercut from Taylor dropped the Mexican-American to his back bouncing his head off the canvas. Again Ramirez beat the count but would never mount the same type of attack from the early rounds.
The final :30 of that 7th round from ringside.
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 23, 2021
Goodness. 😳#RamirezTaylor | LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/Zn996xmbzA
In the championship rounds Taylor cruised to victory as Ramirez attempted an assault that would prove too little too late against the Scottish champion.
Despite a nasty fight week that saw Taylor become the villain inciting a melee in the lobby of the Virgin hotel, the Scotsman met Ramirez in the locker room post-fight to give his respects to the Ramirez camp.
This moment just now backstage.
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 23, 2021
Wow. #RamirezTaylor pic.twitter.com/p2aBPpMlQr
After twelve rounds the judges cards all read 114-112 in favor of the new undisputed light welterweight champion Josh Taylor.
Zepeda Slides by Old Crafty Pants Lundy
Coming off of the fight of the year against Ivan Baranchyk Jose “Chon” Zepeda 34-2 26KOs placidly defeated Old Crafty Pants Hammerin Hank Lundy 31-9-1 14KOs by unanimous decision. Zepeda played it safe after being knocked down four times against Baranchyk.
Zepeda jabbed and pecked his way from the outside as Lundy survived through ten rounds.
After ten slow rounds Zepeda came away with a unanimous victory that did not make you want to see him fight again. Despite being in exciting fights Zepeda has cruised in fights he was expected to win. Serving as the co-main to Ramirez-Taylor, Zepeda didn’t invoke a desire to see him face the winner of the main event.
Sims Jr. Stuns Rodriguez in Upset
Kenneth Sims Jr. 16-2-1 5KOs pulled the upset over heralded Top Rank prospect Elvis Rodriguez 11-1-1 10KOs. Sims used a sharp jab and crisp counterpunching to show the hot prospect that there are levels in boxing. After eight rounds the judges scores read 78-74 twice and 76-76 to give Sims the victory by majority decision.