Chris Algieri says former IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey has an “opportunity to shock the world” when he faces inactive former WBC/WBO light welterweight champ Jose Ramirez on March 25th at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California.
The 30-year-old Ramirez will be coming off a twelve-month layoff when he steps in the ring to face the power puncher Commey, and we don’t know what we’ll see from the Southern California native. Is Ramirez a shot fighter at this point?
Some fans would argue that Ramirez has been over the hill since his fight with Jose Zepeda in 2019, and he’s been able toartificially extend his career by swerving talents like Regis Prograis.
JOSE RAMIREZ HAS STRUGGLED SINCE 2019
At times, Ramirez looks good, but it’s been four years since the last time where he shined in a fight against Maurice Hooker in 2019. In three fights since then, the 2012 U.S Olympian Ramirez has looked faded against these fighters:
- Jose Pedraza – lackluster UD 12 win
- Josh Taylor – UD loss
- Viktor Postol – close MD 12 win
You can add Jose Zepeda to that list of fighters that gave Ramirez tremendous problems in their fight in February 2019, before his fight with Maurice Hooker.
Many boxing fans, this writer included, had Zepeda beating Ramirez. It’s interesting to note that the fight took place in Ramirez’s hometown of Fresno, California, at the Save Mart Arena, which is where he’ll be facing Commey on March 25th.
Zepeda gave Ramirez a boxing lesson in that fight, looking like a matador skillfully fending off the charges from the less skilled fighter.
Ramirez (27-1, 17 KOs) turned down a title shot against WBC 140-lb champion and is now fighting Commey (30-4-1, 27 KOs) in March in the main event in a Top Rank-promoted show on ESPN, ESPN Deportes ESPN+ at 10:00 p.m. ET.
“[Jose] Ramirez turned down the fight with [Regis] Prograis. Didn’t like the split,” said Dan Canobbio on Inside Boxing Live about former WBC & WBO light welterweight champion Jose Ramirez rejecting a mandated title shot against WBC 140-lb champion Regis Prograis and is now choosing to fight Richard Commey for arguably less money.
“He’s [Ramirez] going to be fighting in his hometown [Fresno, California], where he sells a lot of tickets, but he’s fighting Richard Commey. We love Richard Commey. He’s one of your friends. One of the nicest guys in boxing, but Jose Ramirez, they’re on different trajectories, these two guys.
“You’re going from fighting Regis Prograis for a world title to going to fighting Richard Commey. I don’t understand that. I know the money wasn’t right for Ramirez, but the alternative is, you just lost in line for a title,” said Canobbio.
“I can’t trash my man, Commey,” Chris Algieri said.
“You’ve got too many ties to these guys,” said Canobbio to Algieri.
“I love Richard. I can’t trash one of his fights,” said Algieri about Commey. “I want to see him fight, and I know he wants to fight. I know he’s clamoring for the next opportunity. Ramirez is a name.
“I think it’s a very tough fight for Richard. I don’t like the style match-up specifically, but it’s another opportunity for Richard to shock the world once again,” said Algieri.
“He [Commey] could beat him. Jose Ramirez has such strange outings, such strange performances where he can look like a world-beater, and then he can fight down to his competition and find himself in a very split decision type of fight,” said Canobbio.
“He almost lost to [Viktor] Postol,” said Algieri about Ramirez.
“Exactly,” said Canobbio. “Ramirez will be the favourite, but Commey will be a live dog in that one.”
Credit: Boxingnews24
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