Is There A Roadblock To Jose Ramirez vs. Josh Taylor?

By Fight Sports Aug 31, 2020

There could be a major hurdle in making the big title unification bout between Jose Ramirez and Josh Taylor a reality.

Ramirez is the WBC and WBO Light-Welterweight Champion, while Taylor holds the WBA (Super) and IBF gold. Ramirez is coming off a majority decision victory over Viktor Postol. Taylor will put his titles on the line against Apinun Khongsong on September 26. While many believe that if Taylor beats Khongsong then it’ll set up the showdown with Ramirez, there’s more at play.

WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel didn’t hesitate in taking to his Twitter account to react to Ramirez’s win over Postol. He was swift in mentioning that Jack Catterall is the mandatory challenger for the WBO gold.

It was a closer fight than I thought, but Ramirez retains his @WorldBoxingOrg Championship. Congratulations. WBO Mandatory next. #WBO #RamirezPostol

— Paco Valcárcel, Esq. (@PacoValcarcel) August 30, 2020

“It was a closer fight than I thought, but Ramirez retains his [WBO] Championship. Congratulations. WBO Mandatory next.”

Catterall is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Timo Schwarzkopf. That bout took place back on November 22, 2019. Catterall once held the WBO Inter-Continental Light-Welterweight Title. He is undefeated with a record of 25-0 with 13 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Whether or not Ramirez will go through with defending the WBO gold against Catterall or go straight to Taylor remains to be seen. As mentioned, Taylor must defeat Khonsong if he has any hope of a title unification tilt with Ramirez.

Back in June, Catterall said he sees holes in Ramirez’s game and is prepared to exploit them (h/t Boxing Scene).

“I see a few weaknesses in him. He is a good solid come forward fighter and world titles are not just handed out, but I believe in myself. I see a few things when studying him that I will be able to capitalize on when we fight. I feel I am getting fitter, smarter, and stronger each day that passes. When it is my time, I will not be denied.”