by Cliff Rold

Make the right fights and let the results speak for themselves.

Sometimes, clashes we expect to be excellent aren’t. The styles mix wrong or one fighter is too superior to another. It can be disappointing; every anticipated NFL, NBA, or MLB contest doesn’t deliver fireworks either. As long as everyone gives an honest effort, and the officiating is fair, we can live with a battle failing to meet the hype.

Competition at well-matched levels can be enough.

Then there are nights past expectations. They remind us why there is no real alternative to seeing the better fighters in respective divisions facing off with real stakes. Jose Ramirez and Maurice Hooker was an example of boxing’s better angels taking flight. After a hard week for the sport, they delivered the goods.

Jose Ramirez walked away with his hand raised, adding the WBO belt while making the third defense of his WBC belt at 140 lbs. It was a validating victory for a fighter who still had question marks. He may or may not go on to be the very best Jr. welterweight in the world. After Saturday’s destructive, winning sixth-round assault there is no answering the question without him being involved.

Maurice Hooker, despite his first loss, can still have his head held high. He gave everything he had, went out on his shield, and will fight another day. Someone has to lose but a loss with daring should count for something.

With the other half of the division set to be unified in the World Boxing Super Series final between Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor, the future for the division could play out logically.

Will it?  

Let’s get into it.

The Future for Ramirez: Ramirez has shown up big on the road to win both of the belts he holds. It says something about the sort of fighter he is. While the commentary gave both men credit, it was a more dominant performance from Ramirez than described. He was stronger, more physical, and proved more durable. Given his size and strength, Ramirez has been developed into a serious problem for anyone in class. Will he see the Prograis-Taylor winner? It says here the chances are good but Top Rank could also take Ramirez up the scale. A year ago, a fight between Ramirez and WBO welterweight titlist Terence Crawford wouldn’t have been perceived as competitive. The perception gap will close quickly with more nights like Saturday. With most of the welterweight division fighting under the PBC umbrella, Crawford needs opponents and Ramirez could be a moneymaker. It gets bigger if Ramirez is able to unify all the belts at 140 lbs. first. Crawford is the only man to unify all four at Jr. welterweight to date. If Ramirez equal the accomplishment, that’s a fine promotional hook. The risk is Ramirez could lose to the Prograis-Taylor winner…but he could have lost to Hooker to. The next six to nine months of matchmaking for Ramirez will tell the tale. Expect to see him return to Central California soon to protect his home court.  

The Future for Hooker: Hooker’s local fans near Dallas showed up for a good crowd Saturday and he gave them enough to engender future support. The title scene in the class moves on without him for now but another win or two and he’s right back in the mix. If Ramirez versus the WBSS winner can’t happen right away, Hooker could be a viable foe Taylor or Prograis. With his frame, Hooker could also pursue welterweight chances though whether he can physically handle even stronger men remains to be seen. It’s enough that Hooker should be welcome back by fight fans after a gutsy effort.

Rold Picks 2019: 47-12

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com