Josh Taylor Aiming For Welterweight Move Following Jose Ramirez Bout

Undefeated WBA & IBF light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor is expecting to defend his titles against the fellow undefeated Jose Ramirez on May 22, 2021, in Paradise, Nevada.

Taylor will also be challenging for Ramirez’ WBC & WBO light-welterweight titles, and after claiming his third and fourth divisional titles, he’s looking to move up to welterweight for his next bout following.

Coming into the bout, Taylor boasts a record of 17-0 with 13 knockouts, while Ramirez is 26-0 with 17 knockouts to his credit.

Taylor has given his thoughts on his opponent to Sky Sports, and is aware of the threat lying ahead:

“He’s the unified world champion so you have to give him respect. He is a good, come-forward fighter who makes people work. He grinds people down.

“He is a pressure fighter who keeps it tight, puts the pressure on, tries to break them down, overwhelm them. He comes for a fight. It’s a different kind of fight to Regis Prograis tactics-wise. I see a lot of things in Ramirez’ game that I can expose.

“I first came across him at the World Championships in Azerbaijan in 2011. We were in the same weight category. I knew most of the fighters around my weight so I’ve known of him a long time. He turned pro before me.

“Our paths could have crossed at the Olympics but it wasn’t to be. Now our paths cross for the biggest prize in the game. He’s decent but have I always had the ability to beat him? Yes. I’ve never thought of him as a threat.”

Following a dominant performance, Taylor would then like to move up to welterweight to face WBO welterweight champion, pound-for-pound great, Terence Crawford:

“After this, it will be to move up to 147-pounds and chase a second weight world title to really cement my reign in the history books.

“Crawford? Of course he’s on my radar. It would be a massive fight, two undisputed champions fighting. These are all longer-term goals. All I’m thinking about now is Ramirez and winning those four belts.”

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