With son on mind, Valley pro boxer Jose Ramirez awaits pay-per-view debut in Vegas

The joy of becoming a father is like no other for Jose Ramirez.

The Avenal native and 2012 U.S. Olympian discovered that on Oct. 7 with the birth of son Matteo Maximiliano Ramirez. It is the first child for Ramirez and girlfriend Marisol Lopez.

“I’m thankful for many blessings I received throughout the year. But Matteo Maximiliano was by far my biggest blessing,” Ramirez later wrote on his Instagram. “Thank you Lord.”

But his son’s arrival also meant new sacrifices. Like many professional athletes, there are days and large chunks of weeks and even months away from home in the central San Joaquin Valley.

As has been the case the past two months for Ramirez, who has been training since February at Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood ahead of Saturday’s fight against Manny Perez.

Ramirez meets Perez in a 10-round super lightweight bout on the undercard of the Timothy Bradley Jr./Manny Pacquiao III fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Ramirez’s WBC Continental Americas title is on the line, and the fight will kick off the pay-per-view portion at 6 p.m.

The chance to fight on PPV is a first for the rising star, who is fighting at the MGM Grand for the second time in his career, but the time away from his son has proven tough.

He is able to make it home most weekends, but then it’s back to Southern California, while Marisol and the now-6-month-old Matteo stay behind.

“It’s always tough to leave,” Ramirez said. “I don’t get to see him too much.”

When he is home, the fighter says, he tries to make the most of his family time. There are two-hour visits to the zoo and other trips.

“Last time we went to Monterey Aquarium,” Ramirez said. “They’re always ready for everything.”

Ramirez says his goodbyes late each Sunday night.

“It’s tough because I feel like everyone should work somewhere close to family,” Ramirez said. “Boxing is my job … brand-new father is a job that I love and I’m like two to three hours away.”

But promoter/agent Rick Mirigian believes fatherhood only will burnish Ramirez’s pro career.

“Matteo has breathed new life into Ramirez,” Mirigian said. “He is a dedicated father who wants to make his son proud.”

In Ramirez’s last fight, a December bout against Johnny Garcia when Ramirez captured the Continental Americas belt by unanimous decision at a packed Save Mart Center, he sported trunks emblazoned with his son’s name. For this latest fight, he will wear black trunks that along with his many sponsors will feature a white waistband with “MATTEO” on the front and “RAMIREZ” on the back in black lettering.

It is another way of keeping his son close. Matteo will remain in Fresno this weekend with his girlfriend’s parents, Ramirez said, rather than expose such a young child to the commotion that occurs in the arena.

“The only thing I ask from Marisol … is to make sure she’s there,” he said. “She’s doing a good job, and he’s such a strong boy.”

Lopez understands the busy nature of Ramirez’s schedule, but said she notices the bond he and his son have formed during the weekend visits and long-distance interactions via Facetime.

“I have to bear with it,” she said. “It is sad when I see him leave because our son sees him leave, too. When he comes back, it’s like … he wants Jose all the time. I can tell how much he misses him, and that’s what gets to me the most. Other than that, everything – the time, hard work, everything – is for a reason and at the end of the day everything is going to pay off.”

Ramirez said that when he steps between the ropes Saturday evening, friends and family will be on his mind, especially his son.

“Leading up to the fight it’s all about working hard,” he said. “During training, I have to work hard for my family and everybody on my team … everyone who believes in me. They come into my mind, as well as my son.”

Local outlets offer PPV viewings – Those looking to watch the broadcast outside their living rooms can do so at several Valley sites, including Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino and north Fresno’s HCK Restaurant.

At the Lemoore casino, the broadcast will be on 12 televisions and offered free to casino patrons, advertising manager Catherine Montoya said.

Admission is $10 at HCK and it will be shown on 18 high-definition TVs, owner Lewis Everk said. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 6:27 PM with the headline "With son on mind, Valley pro boxer Jose Ramirez awaits pay-per-view debut in Vegas."