By Ryan Burton

WBC super lightweight champion Jose Ramirez (23-1) returns to the ring in Fresno, Calif. on Sunday night in an ESPN televised main event. Standing across from him will be the hard hitting former title challenger Jose Zepeda (30-1).

One of the more intriguing aspects of the fight will be Ramirez going up against his former long time trainer Freddie Roach who recently began training Zepeda.

When asked about that dynamic, Ramirez spoke highly of the Hall of Fame trainer while also reminding us that he has a great trainer in his corner as well, Robert Garcia.

"I respect Freddie and he is a great coach. He saw me a lot and now his job is to train the guy in his corner which is Jose Zepeda and his job is to train him to be ready and to come out and win but I am also trained by a good coach Robert Garcia. I am trained by a good family, the Garcia's and all the guys at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, the contenders, world champions and the prospects they are preparing me to be ready," said Ramirez.

"Mentally and physically I am ready. Everything else we will leave to God and see what happens on Sunday. I am not worried about Freddie Roach."

Ramirez captured his title in March when he dominated Amir Imam over 12 rounds at Madison Square Garden in New York.  He followed that up with another dominant unanimous decision victory over Antonio Orozco in September.  Ramirez dropped Orozco twice in his homecoming title defense that took place in Fresno, Calif.

Zepeda also went 2-0 in 2018 and won both of his fights by knockout. He has now won 7 fights in a row since losing to Terry Flanagan in 2015.  He was forced to retire at the end of the 2nd round due to a dislocated shoulder in that fight.

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