Josh Taylor defeats Jose Ramirez to become undisputed champion

Super lightweights Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez thrilled boxing fans as they fought a classic bout. Taylor proved to be the better man. 

During the early goings of fight week, things were quiet between super lightweight champions Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez, but things exploded a day before their May 22 unification bout in a shoving match after the weigh-in. The fight lived up to the hype, and that same aggression was present.

Taylor came into the fight with the IBF and WBA super lightweight titles while Ramirez held the WBC and  WBO division belts. Someone had to lose their titles and their undefeated status for the crowning of an undisputed champion. Unfortunately for Ramirez, Taylor came away with his hardware and the coveted title of undisputed champion.

Taylor boxed brilliantly in rounds 1 and 2, and the hand speed of his right jab gave Ramirez problems, but Ramirez woke up in round 3 and gave Taylor a beating to the body. Taylor looked visibly hurt and had to hold onto Ramirez to try and stymy his attack. It didn’t work as Ramirez roared to life.

Ramirez continued to charge in round 4 but ate a Taylor left to the body that made him wince. Ramirez kept coming forward, but he showed weakness at that moment.

Josh Taylor raised his fame to a new level and dropped Jose Ramirez twice in a thriller

A cut opened up on the outside of Taylor’s left eye in round 5, which was another Ramirez round. However, the action dramatically changed in round 6.

Only 20 seconds into the round, Taylor floored Ramirez with a left hand to the jaw. Ramirez looked momentarily hurt but got up and regained his composure. Ramirez had his moments later in the round but dropped a 10-8 round.

Things got worse for Ramirez in round 7. In the final minute, Taylor caught Ramirez with a  left uppercut to the head that sent Ramirez down for the second time. Ramirez got up but looked damaged as he finished the round.

Somehow, Ramirez finished the fight on his feet. He scored some shots at the ends of rounds 10 and 11. He made Taylor retreat in round 11 but really needed a knockout to win in round 12. It never came as the final bell rang.

All three judges scored the fight 114-112 for Taylor, who’s now the undisputed super lightweight boxing champion. It was a fantastic fight that was competitive early, but Taylor’s power and skill were too much for Ramirez. Taylor came to the U.S from Scotland for the fight and handed Ramirez his first loss on Ramirez’s home turf.

Taylor is the king of the division and is now the envy of every super lightweight in the world.