(Photo Credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank)

What Is The Dilemma Between Jose Ramirez And The WBO?

By FIGHTSPORTS Aug 31, 2020

It’ll soon be decision-making time for Jose Ramirez.

Ramirez is riding high after successfully defending his WBC and WBO Light-Welterweight Titles against Viktor Postol. He achieved this via majority decision in the headliner for a Top Rank Boxing card held inside the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

While talks of a title unification showdown between Ramirez and WBA (Super) and IBF titleholder Josh Taylor have been running rampant, the WBO is looking to pump the brakes. That’s because as WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel pointed out, Jack Catterall is the mandatory contender for Ramirez’s title.

In an email sent by the WBO, Ramirez was informed of a 120-day window after his bout with Postol to face Catterall or relinquish his WBO Championship.

“Please be advised that on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, this Committee granted sanction approval of the WBO & WBC Unified Jr. Welterweight Championship Contest between Jose Ramirez and Viktor Postol, with the provision that the winner must face WBO Jr. Welterweight Mandatory Challenger Jack Catterall within 120-days after the bout. The official sanction letter was duly notified to Top Rank Promotions via email on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

Therefore, in light of the preceding, the parties have twenty days (20) upon receipt of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement between the WBO Jr. Welterweight Champion Jose Carlos Ramirez and Mandatory Challenger Jack Catterall. If an accord is not reached within the time frame stated herein, a purse bid will be ordered according to our WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests. The minimum acceptable bid in the WBO Jr. Welterweight Division is $150,000.00 (One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars). Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid procedure at any time during the negotiation process.”

Ramirez has been perfect so far with a record of 26-0. He has 17 knockouts to his credit. Catterall is also undefeated, sporting a 25-0 record with 13 knockouts. It’ll be interesting to see if Ramirez relinquishes his WBO gold in favor of jumping straight into a clash with Taylor. Of course, Taylor must handle business against Apinun Khongsong on September 26.