Jose Ramirez made the statement he needed to make.
There was no better home for the former WBC and WBO world junior welterweight champion, who defeated Richard Commey in the eleventh round. Ramirez scored two knockdowns in the fateful round, the second of which was a full ten on Saturday night at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. at 2:31 in round eleven in their WBC junior welterweight title eliminator.
Ramirez had a lot to prove when the main event took place after twice declining a shot to fight for his old WBC junior welterweight title, including a rightly criticized withdrawal from an orderly bout with defending champion Regis Prograis. There was no better place than home for the former overall world champion, who stepped onto familiar ground to loud cheers from his regional fans, who showed up in full force.
“It’s always an honor to fight here in Fresno,” said Ramirez, who hails from nearby Avenal, of his tenth career appearance in the city and sixth at the venue. “La Raza, we are a family here in the Central Valley. We are family oriented and it is an honor to showcase my talent in front of my people.”
The local hero played his part. Commey made it easy for Ramirez to hit the 140-pound limit for the sanctioned title eliminator, starting with his fight. The former IBF lightweight world champion tipped the scales four times, weighing 140.6, 140.4 and 140.2 pounds before finally hitting the 140-pound mark within the extended two-hour limit.
As soon as the bell rang to start the fight, Commey walked straight at Ramirez ready to act. Ramirez repeatedly made him pay with his right hand on top. A left hook snapped Commey’s head back, resulting in a rally down the ropes. Commey managed a straight right hand that caught Ramirez on the chin in an otherwise lopsided round.
Ramirez continued his stubborn attack throughout the second round. Commey could still sneak into a right hand, but every punch he executed – even the ones that landed – left him open to a relentless body attack, dished out by Ramirez, who was determined to pull off a KO finish.
Commey was determined to bring home a game-changing right-hand man. The former IBF lightweight world champion used his shoulder to partially deflect Ramirez’s incoming shots before releasing with overhand rights. Unperturbed by the approach, Ramirez charged forward to pin the visiting boxer to the ropes.
A subtle adjustment by Commey briefly slowed the pace on lap four. Commey managed to smother Ramirez’s punches, allowing him to fire his right hand from the inside. This time, Ramirez took the bait as he ran into a right hand and left hook. Commey ripped a left hook below, only for Ramirez to propel him to the ropes and connect with a trio of hooks below.
Ramirez enjoyed the cheers of the crowd as he rediscovered a consistent home for his right hand on round five. Commey refused to back down and rode out a Ramirez before responding with a short barrage of body punches.
Both boxers traded jabs in round six. Commey threw his while fighting backwards, knowing he was being pinned against the ropes. Ramirez missed with a powerful shot along the ropes as Commey took the action to the center of the ring. Ramirez adjusted his attack and was able to connect with right uppercuts.
The action slowed in round seven, understandably slowly after a hard fought first half of the fight. Ramirez saved his best moments for the end of the round. The pace picked up slightly on round eight as Commey struggled behind his long jab and threw Ramirez in bursts. Neither landed anything of significance until the end of the round when Ramirez scored with a combination.
Ramirez changed the course of the fight dramatically and permanently in round eleven. A by Ramirez left Commey unsteady before crashing to the canvas. Referee Jack Reiss issued a standard eight and scored the fallen boxer before allowing the action to continue.
Commey was still unable to fully gather his skills as he pinned down Ramirez before the two dropped to the canvas. Reiss allowed extra time to pass as he made sure both boxers were okay before letting the fight progress. Ramirez dodged a right hand from Commey and snapped a left hook to the body. Commey was forced to one knee where he counted the full ten.
The loss left Commey without a win in his last three starts as he fell to 30-5-1 (27 KOs). His last win came in February 2021 when he stopped Jackson Marinez in the sixth round. Since then there has been a one-sided loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko, a draw with former two-tier champions Jose Pedraza and now the second injury-time defeat of his career.
Ramirez advanced to 28-1 (18 KOs) with his second straight win since his unified title reign ended, losing to Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) in his undisputed championship in May 2021. It was his first fight in more than a year following a win over Pedraza at that very venue last March.
“It’s always hard,” Ramirez said of returning from the long layoff that included marrying his longtime partner. “There was a point in my career where I got used to throwing a large number of shots. I wanted to set an example and show that I’m the stronger one.
“But I want to stay active and be back by September.”
Compubox credited Ramirez for outlanding Commey, 191-to-157, along with 34% of his power punches. The win makes him a future challenger for Prograis – if he wants the fight.
“I want every world champion,” emphasized Ramirez. “Regis Prograis. I want the winner from Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez (June 10 at Madison Square Garden). If Regis is serious about the fight, let’s sit down and talk – and stop this crap. Let’s sit down and make the fight possible. Let your management sit down and lead the fight if you mean business.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox