VIDEO: Josh Taylor vs. Jose Ramirez Represents a Throwback to Old-School Boxing that Fans Can’t Miss
The clash in Las Vegas is in stark contrast to the recent run of celebrity fights that have seemingly taken over the mainstream
It goes without saying that not all boxing events are created equal, especially as it pertains to a fight’s meaning. Very often, in fact, thanks to the sport’s open and free market — including the recent rash of exhibition bouts featuring celebrity names across the world of sports, entertainment and social media influence — some of boxing’s most anticipated fights have very little to do with the current state of boxing at all.
All one has to do is take a look at boxing’s three biggest pay-per-view events over the last six years as evidence: Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor in 2017 (retired boxer vs. MMA star), Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 (retired boxers with a combined age of 105) and Jake Paul-Ben Askren in April (YouTube star vs. retired MMA fighter). Mayweather, now 44, will also return on June 6 in an exhibition match against Paul’s brother, 26-year-old Logan, for a Showtime PPV event expected to only join that group from the standpoint of attention and pay-per-view buys.
And then there’s this Saturday, when a fight takes place at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas to declare an undisputed king at 140 pounds featuring two elite and unbeaten champions who could likely walk down the street in any American city and be confused for a pair of average Joes.
The 28-year-old Ramirez will defend his WBC and WBO junior welterweight titles against Taylor, 30, for his WBA and IBF straps in primetime (8 p.m. ET) on ESPN of all places. The fight also has the backing of promoter Top Rank, which has spent more than a year lining these two fighters up just for this moment. Make no mistake, this is very much big news within the boxing community.
If you take a look around long enough in 2021, boxing might not exactly resemble the one your grandfather used to rave about back when it was cherished as “the sport of kings,” but make no mistake a fight like Ramirez-Taylor would fit in during any era and has all the makings to be a timeless classic worthy of your heed.
