Jose Ramirez defeated former two-division world champion, Jose Pedraza, by unanimous decision Friday night at the Save Mart Center in a junior welterweight main event.
Ramirez (27-1, 17 KOs) was back on the winning track following last May’s decision loss against Josh Taylor; that time, in a matchup for the undisputed title. Pedraza (29-4, 14 KOs) had some success in the middle rounds, keeping Ramirez at bay and throwing punches against the ropes. Ramírez was up by two points on all three judges’ scorecards entering the 11th round. Then, he increased the pressure in the final two rounds, outscoring Pedraza 116-112, 116-112, and 116-112.
First strikes
From the start of the fight, Ramirez was very assertive with his frontal punches; sending his opponent to the ropes at points in the first round. Pedraza was having a lot of difficulties since he was constantly forced to give up ground. He did not find clear holes for his counterattacks due to the blocks and the movements of the waist of his rival and his strength and power were inferior.
Little by little, Pedraza landed some accurate blow on a counterattack. However, Ramírez was achieving a very important advantage on the cards.
Aware that this was a momentous opportunity and that victory was slipping away from him, Pedraza put in a little extra effort trying to come back and win the fight. Thanks to this, achieving his best results past the halfway point with precise counterpunches accompanied by elusive actions. That generated serious tactical complications for Ramírez while allowing him to avoid very dangerous hands.
However, although he also knew how to make himself resistant by increasing his mobility and using punctual jabs; Pedraza had lost too many rounds in the first half. Thus, although the visitor came to shake his opponent somewhat with a left hook, a final increase in aggressiveness was enough for Ramirez to connect more fists than his rival in some of the episodes and secure victory.
Last Round
In the 11th round, Pedraza did well with lead lefts, landing an excellent way to Ramirez’s chin in the first minute. Ramirez then moved forward with his offense knowing he didn’t need a stoppage; fighting well-controlled did more than enough the rest of the way to win this round. In the final round, Ramírez almost pitched a shutout but still took care of a counter left by Pedraza, who was lucky to survive the distance.
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