Avenal boxer Jose Ramirez sets a title defense for early 2019 with special meaning
Make it two straight title defenses for Jose Ramirez in Fresno. And this one will have a special meaning for the Avenal native.
The WBC junior welterweight world champion will defend against Jose Zepeda in a scheduled 12-rounder at the Save Mart Center on Feb. 10.
The Ramirez/Zepeda bout and a co-main event yet to be announced will headline the Top Rank card that will begin at 4 p.m. on ESPN.
The undercard will begin at 1 p.m.
February is National Cancer Prevention Month and Ramirez (23-0, 16 KOs) will auction off his fight-worn trunks, purple gloves, a white shirt with a purple ribbon and shoes with proceeds benefiting the Community Cancer Institute in Clovis. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to Community Cancer Institute.
“I feel blessed to defend my title a second time at home against a great opponent,” Ramirez said. “it’s an event that is definitely going to encourage and bring hope It’s really to bring people together for causes that are universal and are important to the people that make a difference.”
Dedicating a fight card to help fight cancer means a lot to Ramirez’s agent/promoter Rick Mirigian whose mom, Pauline Soto, was diagnosed with cancer a year ago.
“The idea originated from her with her situation. That’s how I thought about it,” Mirigian said. “It inspired me, but it’s my way just to have her keep fighting. Just to give her some motivation. She’s the toughest fighter I know and I just wanted to do something special.”
Ramirez said he’s not just defending his WBC title, he’s fighting for cancer patients and survivors.
“It’s a very important fight because the meaning behind this fight is much bigger than the event itself,” Ramirez said. “Fighting for cancer, fighting for everyone, including Rick’s mom and many others who have cancer or have gone through cancer. We want to demonstrate that we’re there for them and supporting them and that we’re going to help them in any way to go through cancer.”
This will be Ramirez’s fifth headlining appearance at the Save Mart Center. His four previous Save Mart Center appearances have drawn a total of 51,760 fans.
Zepeda (30-1, 25 KOs) is from La Puente and is on an eight-bout unbeaten streak dating back to July 2015 when he fought Terry Flanagan for the WBO lightweight world title in Manchester, England, and suffered a dislocated shoulder in the second round and had to retire from the bout.
Zepeda is ranked No. 4 in the WBO rankings, with the titlist being Maurice Hooker.
Ramirez is coming off a unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Antonio Orozco on Sept. 14 at the Save Mart Center before 11,102. He knocked down Orozco twice before scoring the victory.
“We are proud to be involved with an event that will raise a tremendous amount of exposure for cancer research,” Top Rank CEO Bob Arum said. “Zepeda is a really tough fighter who will give Jose an excellent fight.”
This is likely Ramirez’s lone fight in Fresno in 2019 because the plan is to have him fight elsewhere, possibly for Hooker’s title, if he keeps winning.
“I want to fight the best,” Ramirez said. “Hopefully Top Rank gives me those fights. Hopefully I beat Zepeda and then I can be ranked high enough in the WBO where I can become a mandatory for Maurice Hooker.”
Tickets go on sale Monday, priced at $25-$150 and available at the Save Mart Center box office, Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
This story was originally published December 21, 2018 at 9:02 AM.
