Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Despite Last-Minute Changes, Senate Bill Deals Big Blow to Renewable Energy

9 hours ago

Trump-Backed Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Passes US Senate

11 hours ago

Homeland Security Secretary Noem Says CNN May Be Prosecuted Over Report on Migration App

11 hours ago

Israeli Officials to Hold Ceasefire Talks in Washington Amid Military Escalation in Gaza

12 hours ago

Trump Escalates Feud With Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support

12 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

1 day ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

1 day ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

1 day ago
Jose Ramirez is the Best Boxer in Fresno History. What's Next?
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 6 years ago on
July 29, 2019

Share

Jose Ramirez proved any doubters wrong Saturday night by stopping fellow unbeaten world champion Maurice Hooker on Hooker’s Dallas area home turf.
Not only did Ramirez unify the WBC and WBO super lightweight title belts, but he also stamped himself as the greatest boxer ever from the Fresno area.

Portrait of GV Wire News Director Bill McEwen
Bill McEwen
Opinion
A landing spot for many generations of immigrants, Fresno has a long tradition of producing boxers hungry to make their mark on the world stage.
With his third successful title defense, Ramirez vaulted past Young Corbett III to the top spot in local boxing annals.
And that’s no small feat.

Ramirez Cleared a Tall Hurdle

Corbett is enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. During his career as a welterweight and later a middleweight, he defeated many fellow Hall of Famers. That list includes Billy Conn, Fred Apostoli and a boxer some experts rank among the all-time pound-for-pound greats, Mickey Walker. Corbett also defeated Young Jack Thompson, Ceferino Garcia, and Gus Lesnevic — all of whom would later win world titles.
But the 25-0 Ramirez now has proven he can take on the sport’s toughest assignment: Invade the home town of a world-class opponent and dominate him. No more can boxing insiders say that Ramirez has risen to the top by often fighting at home and facing carefully selected opponents.
“(Ramirez) didn’t just add another belt to his collection, he served notice that he is truly a world-class fighter and maybe, just maybe, the best junior welterweight on the planet,” wrote ESPN’s Steve Kim after Saturday’s bout.

Ramirez Wants All the 140-Pound Belts

So, what’s next for the 26-year-old Avenal native and former Fresno State student?
Look for him to attempt to unify all four world title belts. That would mean taking on the winner of the Josh Taylor-Regis Progaiz bout, which is the finale of the World Boxing Super Series.


Should Ramirez emerge as the undefeated king of the 140-pound division, he’ll be positioned to move up to the welterweight division, where bigger paydays and more media attention await.

Photo of Jose Ramirez celebrating TKO victory over Maurice Hooker
Jose Ramirez celebrates his sixth-round TKO of Maurice Hooker on Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

Switching Trainers Pays Off

If you have seen Ramirez’s recent fights, then you know the former Olympian continues to sharpen his skills.
Credit two-thirds of that to Ramirez’s dedication and ambition and one-third to switching from Hall of Famer Freddie Roach to Robert Garcia as his trainer. Garcia has a knack for detecting weaknesses in opponents, and Ramirez has the ability to execute the gameplan.
In this one, Ramirez had to overcome Hooker’s considerable reach advantage to get inside, which he did. In addition, Ramirez benefits from his willingness to face top-notch sparring fighters.

Hooker: ‘I Was Hurt’

On Saturday, Ramirez stunned Hooker (26-1-3) with a left hook and then delivered brutal punch after brutal punch with Hooker pinned against the ropes in the sixth round. Referee Mark Nelson then stepped in and stopped the scheduled 12-rounder.
“He didn’t know how hard I hit until the moment came,” Ramirez said. “I came here with one mission, just to do my fight. Going back to my rhythm and nice jab, everything I did when I was an amateur.”
Afterward, Hooker said the referee made the right decision: “It was a good stoppage. I was hurt.”

Jose Ramirez, right, lands a punch on Maurice Hooker in the second round. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
[activecampaign form=19]

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

DON'T MISS

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

DON'T MISS

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

DON'T MISS

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

DON'T MISS

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

DON'T MISS

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

UP NEXT

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

UP NEXT

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

UP NEXT

How Wimbledon Is Tackling Its Hottest Opening on Record

UP NEXT

The Chainsmokers to Headline Dog Daze Festival at Chukchansi Park

UP NEXT

Sex Abuse Scandal Forces Fresno’s Catholic Diocese to Declare Bankruptcy

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Intoxicated Employee Following Morning Disturbance

UP NEXT

Fresno Police, CHP Crack Down on Impaired Driving for July 4th

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Amaury Fernandez

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Investigate Deadly Shooting Near Bethlehem Center

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

4 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

5 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

5 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

5 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

5 hours ago

Tulare County Wildfire Prompts Advisory in Three Rivers Area

6 hours ago

O’Brien Launches Fresno County Schools Chief Campaign by Handing Out ‘Homework’

6 hours ago

Trump Says US Could Reach Trade Deal With India, Casts Doubt on Deal With Japan

6 hours ago

Jury Reaches Verdict on Some Counts at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial

6 hours ago

How Wimbledon Is Tackling Its Hottest Opening on Record

6 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration released about 150 National Guard troops on Tuesday in the first pullback since it dispatched a milit...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

An Israeli military convoy manoeuvres near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, July 1, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
4 hours ago

Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to Conditions to Finalize 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire

Abel Joel Garcia Zarate, 39, of Biola, was arrested Sunday, June, 30, 2025, in Madera County on suspicion of starting a wildfire just hours after crews responded to a separate blaze sparked by farm equipment. (Madera County SO)
4 hours ago

Fresno County Man Arrested for Suspected Arson Hours After Separate Wildfire

4 hours ago

New California Environmental Rollbacks Could Boost Housing Projects in Fresno

An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023. REUTERSStringerFile Photo
5 hours ago

Iran Made Preparations to Mine the Strait of Hormuz, US Sources Say

5 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Embattled Nikki Henry Exits. ‘I Own My Mistake. I Won’t Let It Own Me.’

Lara Trump looks on during Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump's rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024. (Reuters File)
5 hours ago

Trump Floats Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump for Senate Run in North Carolina

A Google logo is seen at a company research facility in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 13, 2025. (Reuters File)
5 hours ago

Google Hit With $314 Million US Verdict in Cellular Data Class Action

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend