Josh Taylor wins the biggest boxing match of the year so far, knocking Jose Ramirez down twice
Josh Taylor #JoshTaylor
Josh Taylor won the biggest boxing match of the year Saturday when he knocked Jose Ramirez down twice en route to a decision win at a Top Rank event in Las Vegas.
A two-belt champion at super lightweight heading into the high-stakes showdown, Taylor annexed Ramirez’s two titles, too, and becomes the unified, undisputed champion at 140-pounds, which punctuates his claim as one of the sport’s very best fighters.
Taylor did not have it all his own way. Ramirez enjoyed a thumping third round in which he more than doubled the power punches his opponent landed, according to Compubox data sent to Insider.
Ramirez also rallied in the final third of the bout as the Scotsman took his foot off the gas.
However, a pair of thudding knockdowns in the sixth and seventh rounds, which earned Taylor 10-8 rounds on all three of the judges’ scorecards, proved decisive when the final count was made.
Judges Steve Weisfeld, Dave Moretti, and Tim Cheatham all saw the 12-round bout as a tight, 114-112 affair in Taylor’s favor, awarding the 18th consecutive victory in his unbeaten pro career.
“What a sensational fight – both men should be applauded,” said Top Rank’s 89-year-old fight promoter Bob Arum, in a post-fight statement sent to Insider.
“And a hearty congratulations to the new undisputed champion, Josh Taylor. The future is bright for both warriors.”
Taylor will now face one of his mandatory challengers in Jack Catterall, with a pound-for-pound and champion vs. champion bout involving Terence Crawford, a Top Rank stablemate, also in his future.
The 30-year-old said he’s ecstatic with the result, with his new status as the division’s clear No.1 fighter, but said the 114-112 scores were too close.
“I thought the scorecards were a little tight,” he said. “I thought they were well wider than that. I wasn’t too happy with the selection of the judges, but I wasn’t going to moan. I was confident in winning this fight anyway.”
Watch highlights here:
Read the original article on Insider