Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Thai Fighter Jet Bombs Cambodian Targets as Border Battle Escalates

3 hours ago

Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan Dies at 71, TMZ Reports

6 hours ago

TikTok Will Go Dark in US Without Chinese Approval of Sale Deal, Lutnick Says

6 hours ago

Meme Stock Surge Underlines Market Froth, Mostly Centered on Retail Investors

7 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Still Searching for Missing Mother and Infant

7 hours ago

California Releases Teacher Data. It Shows Big Rise in Hispanic Teachers

7 hours ago

Biting a Bat and 5 Other Wild Moments From Ozzy Osbourne’s Life

8 hours ago

Henry Thompson Did Wonders for Fresno Airport, Leaves ‘Incredibly Big Shoes to Fill’

1 day ago
Jose Ramirez Fights Saturday, Watch His Career Highlights Now
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
August 28, 2020

Share

It’s finally going to happen Saturday night in Las Vegas.

After two COVID-19 caused cancellations, Avenal native Jose Ramirez will defend his WBC and WBO world 140-pound belts against former division champion Viktor Postol of Ukraine.

They were first supposed to get it on in February in China. Ramirez’s manager, Rick Mirigian, then scrambled to stage the bout at Fresno’s Save Mart Center in May. The coronavirus KO’d that date, too.

Now, they will do battle “under the bubble” starting at 7 p.m. inside the MGM Grand Conference Center.

You can watch the scheduled 12-round bout and the undercard live on ESPN+. The subscription service costs $5.99 monthly or $49.99 annually.

Jose Ramirez Video Highlights

For those who have never seen Ramirez in action, Top Rank has compiled this 96-second video of him at his best.

Will Ring Rust Figure in the Outcome?

“It’s always an honor stepping into the ring, fighting a guy like Postol and defending my belts,” Ramirez said in a Top Rank press release. “God knows that my goal is to become the undisputed champion and this gets me one step closer to my goal.”

Ramirez enters with a 25-0 record and 17 knockouts. After winning the WBC light-welterweight title in spring 2018, he impressively defeated Antonio Orozco and Jose Zepeda. Then he added the WBO crown with a sixth-round stoppage of Maurice Hooker on Hooker’s home turf in Texas.

Because of the pandemic, it’s been a while since either boxer has fought — April 2019 for Postol and July 2019 for Ramirez. So boxing insiders expect both fighters to show some rust in the early rounds.

However, both say they’ll be sharp from the opening bell.

“I’m just looking forward to fighting,” said Postol, who is 31-2, with 12 knockouts. “I’m coming to win those world titles. I have been training since this fight was first announced, so I’m focused and ready to go.”

Predicts Top Rank chairman Bob Arum: “I have no doubt we will see the best version of Jose Ramirez, a wonderful young man and one of the world’s best fighters.”

Photo of world boxing champion Jose Ramirez posing beside his statue in Fresno, California
Jose Ramirez shows off his championship belts next to his statue at the Big Fresno Fair. (GV Wire File)

Can Ramirez Get Inside Postol’s Jab?

At 28, Ramirez is his physical prime. Postol is 36 and, while he’s always in superb condition, the question is whether he’s on the verge of decline.

Tactically, the bout likely will come down to if Ramirez can get inside Postol’s jab and apply the overwhelming pressure that has worn down 25 consecutive opponents.

A Potential Mega-Bout Against Josh Taylor in 2021

The bout is generating a big buzz in boxing because of where it could lead — a mega-bout unifying all four major belts against WBA and IBF world champion Josh Taylor.

In just 16 pro fights — all wins and 12 by knockout — the boxer from Scotland nicknamed “The Tartan Tornado” has become a major star.

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

US Justice Department Official Meets Epstein Associate Maxwell

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Arrest Two in Mail Theft During Organized Retail Crime Detail

DON'T MISS

California Political Lobbying Firm Agrees to Settle Federal Fraud Allegations

DON'T MISS

Lara Trump Skips North Carolina US Senate Race, Clears Way for Cooper Versus Whatley

DON'T MISS

Madera County Authorities Dismantle Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation

DON'T MISS

Israel and US Recall Teams From Gaza Truce Talks, US Says Hamas Not Showing Good Faith

DON'T MISS

How Long Will Fresno’s Resort-Like Summer Weather Continue?

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Judge Reduces Sentence for Teen Convicted in Killing Orosi Teacher

DON'T MISS

Thai Fighter Jet Bombs Cambodian Targets as Border Battle Escalates

DON'T MISS

West Coast Rapper YG to Perform at 2025 Big Fresno Fair

UP NEXT

West Coast Rapper YG to Perform at 2025 Big Fresno Fair

UP NEXT

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

UP NEXT

Video-Sharing App Vine Is Returning ‘in AI Form’, Musk Says

UP NEXT

CBS News Taps Tanya Simon as New Boss of ’60 Minutes’ After Trump Lawsuit

UP NEXT

Tulare County Gang Member Booked in Attempted Murder of Two Teens

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Still Searching for Missing Mother and Infant

UP NEXT

Karbassi Fears Costco Could Move to Madera After Fresno Project Halted by Court

UP NEXT

Clovis Police to Hold DUI Checkpoint on Friday

UP NEXT

Henry Thompson Did Wonders for Fresno Airport, Leaves ‘Incredibly Big Shoes to Fill’

UP NEXT

Doctor Pleads Guilty to Supplying Ketamine to ‘Friends’ Star Matthew Perry

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

Lara Trump Skips North Carolina US Senate Race, Clears Way for Cooper Versus Whatley

45 minutes ago

Madera County Authorities Dismantle Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation

51 minutes ago

Israel and US Recall Teams From Gaza Truce Talks, US Says Hamas Not Showing Good Faith

2 hours ago

How Long Will Fresno’s Resort-Like Summer Weather Continue?

2 hours ago

Tulare County Judge Reduces Sentence for Teen Convicted in Killing Orosi Teacher

3 hours ago

Thai Fighter Jet Bombs Cambodian Targets as Border Battle Escalates

3 hours ago

West Coast Rapper YG to Perform at 2025 Big Fresno Fair

4 hours ago

California Cannot Require Background Checks to Buy Ammunition, US Appeals Court Rules

5 hours ago

Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan Dies at 71, TMZ Reports

6 hours ago

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

6 hours ago

US Justice Department Official Meets Epstein Associate Maxwell

WASHINGTON — Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche met accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwe...

14 minutes ago

Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell stands at the podium to address Judge Alison Nathan during her sentencing in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S. June 28, 2022. (Reuters File)
14 minutes ago

US Justice Department Official Meets Epstein Associate Maxwell

37 minutes ago

Clovis Police Arrest Two in Mail Theft During Organized Retail Crime Detail

44 minutes ago

California Political Lobbying Firm Agrees to Settle Federal Fraud Allegations

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, looks on, before President Trump signs the "Genius Act", which will develop regulatory framework for stablecoin cryptocurrencies and expand oversight of the industry, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 18, 2025. (Reuters File)
45 minutes ago

Lara Trump Skips North Carolina US Senate Race, Clears Way for Cooper Versus Whatley

Authorities in Madera County eradicated more than 1,600 marijuana plants during a search of an illegal grow operation in Raymond. (Madera County SO)
51 minutes ago

Madera County Authorities Dismantle Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation

An explosion in Gaza is seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, July 24, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
2 hours ago

Israel and US Recall Teams From Gaza Truce Talks, US Says Hamas Not Showing Good Faith

2 hours ago

How Long Will Fresno’s Resort-Like Summer Weather Continue?

3 hours ago

Tulare County Judge Reduces Sentence for Teen Convicted in Killing Orosi Teacher

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

Search

Send this to a friend