Jose Ramirez will get a title shot. It’ll happen on one of boxing’s biggest stages

Boxer Jose Ramirez is set for a title shot – in New York City, no less.

The Avenal native and 2012 U.S. Olympian will face Amir Imam for the WBC world title at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 17. It’s the main event of a Top Rank ESPN card.

Yes, that’s St. Patrick’s Day – on a Saturday, no less.

“I’m honored to fight for the world title in New York at Madison Square Garden,” Ramirez said. “I haven’t taken any shortcuts in my career and now my opportunity has arrived, and I’m ready, I always wanted this opportunity.”

Top Rank chief Bob Arum made the announcement during a pre-media fight conference Thursday between Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux. He didn’t miss the opportunity to tout the bout as a battle between the world’s biggest boxing promotion camps.

“My fighter, Top Rank’s fighter, Jose Ramirez, a young kid from Fresno, fighting, listen to this, Don King’s fighter, Amir Imam. So it'll be Arum and King going at each other at the Mecca of boxing. Don’t miss it!” Arum said.

On Nov. 11, Ramirez (21-0, 16 KOs) scored a second-round knockout victory over Mike Reed at Save Mart Center.

“This is how you build a star,” said Rick Mirigian, Ramirez’s promoter/agent. “You put him in the biggest media market at the world’s most famous arena on the biggest network as the main event and then you bring him home for the second quarter for the next one.”

It will be the first fight in New York for Ramirez, who is 25. The plan was to have Ramirez fight in Fresno or Reno on Feb. 16 – but New York trumps all.

Imam (21-1, 18 KOs) is an Albany, N.Y., native who fought on the Ramirez/Reed card, winning in the fourth round over Johnny Garcia.

This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Jose Ramirez will get a title shot. It’ll happen on one of boxing’s biggest stages."