by Cliff Rold

In a perfect world, it would be the perfect Jr. welterweight semifinal.

Is it?

On Friday, BoxingScene’s Jake Donovan reportedthe unification contest set for the final of the World Boxing Super Series, WBA titlist Regis Prograis versus IBF titlist Josh Taylor, looks like it’s headed for an October date. The winner will have half the major titles in the division.

Barring a draw, the man holding the other two belts will be determined Saturday night in Texas (DAZN, 7 PM EST). The WBSS final is expected to air on DAZN as well. It only makes sense to match the winners sooner than later, right?

Perhaps.

It could also be that both partially unified titlists could go their separate ways. A Maurice Hooker win Saturday may be the more likely road to total unification. Hooker is already signed to Matchroom Boxing whose relationship with DAZN is well established.

In the case of Jose Ramirez, a win Saturday will elevate his standing in ways that all the tickets he’s sold so far in Central California wouldn’t. It’s one thing to draw. It’s another thing to build a resume.

Ramirez, promoted by Top Rank, has a frame suited to rise in weight and a welterweight titlist above him in his promotional stable that needs opponents. Could a Ramirez win be a more logical gateway for him to a Terence Crawford fight than a showdown with the Prograis-Taylor winner?

Time will tell.

For now, we have a showdown between two undefeated men in their primes; the Olympian Ramirez versus the Dallas local. No matter what comes next, they have a handful with each other in the now and fight fans have a damn fine scrap.

Let’s get into it.

Stats and Stakes

Jose Ramirez

Age: 26

Title: WBC super lightweight (2018-Present, 2 Defenses)

Previous Titles: None

Height: 5’10

Weight: 139 ½ lbs.

Stance: Orthodox

Hails from: Avenal, California

Record: 24-0, 16 KO?

Press Rankings: #2 (Boxing Monthly), #3 (TBRB, Ring, ESPN), #4 (BoxRec)

Record in Major Title Fights: 3-0

Last Five Opponents: 121-7-1 (.942)

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: None

Vs.

Maurice Hooker

Age: 29

Title: WBO Jr. welterweight (2018-Present, 2 Defenses)

Previous Titles: None

Height: 5’11

Weight: 139 ½ lbs.

Stance: Orthodox

Hails from: Dallas, Texas

Record: 26-0-3, 17 KO

Press Rankings: #3 (BoxRec), #4 (Ring, ESPN, Boxing Monthly), #5 (TBRB)

Record in Major Title Fights: 3-0, 1 KO

Last Five Opponents: 141-20-5 (.864)

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Darleys Perez D12; Cristobal Cruz UD12; Terry Flanagan SD12

The Case for Ramirez: Ramirez is one of those fighters coming out of the Olympics who carries the question of what they might be more than what they are; he was a project. The project is paying off now. Big for his weight and physically strong, Ramirez has been further refined as a professional. He works off the jab well, though he can sometimes forget it, rips hard to the body, and works in combination. While hittable, he can also be defensively responsible, keeping his gloves in place to catch shots and fore back. Against Hooker, his solid fundamentals will be to his benefit if Hooker elects to move. Ramirez will be facing a man equally as long as him, something he won’t see a ton of at 140 lbs. Ramirez is the stronger of the two, and appears to have heavier hands. If Hooker elects to move, and Ramirez can start getting downstairs, he can make his case with bigger shots and more of them. Ramirez has a chance to steal the Texas crowd as well and make some new fans. 

The Case for Hooker: Hooker can look ordinary and a little awkward but he’s shown he has some real gamer to him and this is his fifth undefeated opponent in a row. He went on the road to upset then-undefeated Terry Flanagan, outlanding his foe and outgrappling him in a physical contest. He struggled to impress in his last outing but his long, quick jab and footwork could make him an elusive target. Hooker can also work well in combination and his straight shots could disrupt Ramirez’s pressure as could Hooker’s underrated left to the body. Hooker’s best chance looks like it will come via decision and he won’t want to give up too many rounds in the first half as Ramirez could be harder to keep at bay down the stretch.  

The Pick: Right now, the two ‘semi-finals’ at 140 feel like they fall on distinct quality lines. Prograis and Taylor are considered by many to be the leaders of the pack. An impressive winner in Ramirez-Hooker could close the perception gap. Can there be an impressive winner? Hooker’s best chance to win is to frustrate with movement, holding, and timed offensive spots. While he’s long enough to play keep away, Hooker might not be strong enough to keep Ramirez at bay. Ramirez makes it easy to score for him with big, booming shots and eye-catching pressure. Ramirez went into New York and came up big against Amir Imam. Whether he can impress or not we won’t know until Saturday but it says here he comes up big on the road again Saturday, winning a decision on the road against Hooker.      

Rold Picks 2019: 46-12

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