Jose Ramirez wins in return to ring in over a year. There was a scare in one round
Maybe some ring rust caught up to Jose Ramirez.
In his return to the ring in over a year, Ramirez returned Saturday night at the Save Mart Center under Golden Boy Promotions banner and won by unanimous decision over Rances Barthelemy in front of more than 13,000 fans in Fresno.
“I felt great coming in, overly excited. I showed some good skills,” Ramirez said. “I dominated most of the rounds. There was only one round where he could’ve scored a knockdown, but a lot of the fight he didn’t throw a lot of punches and he got overly excited. I think that was my mistake for being distracted in that moment of the round and keeping him in the fight. Overall, I’m just thankful I got the win.”
Ramirez was referencing the third round when Barthelemy landed punches that sent the Avenal native to the canvas. Barthelemy continued to land punches on the back of Ramirez’s head.
Referee Jack Reiss, however, ruled it no knockdown because of the hits to the back of the head while Ramirez was down.
Ramirez (29-1) fought last March when he defeated Richard Commey by knockout in a WBC junior welterweight title eliminator when he knocked him down twice in the 11th round in Fresno.
Ramirez didn’t fight again in 2023 and said bye to Bob Arum’s Top Rank Boxing and signed a deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
He had been with Top Rank since he turned pro in 2012 after the 2012 Olympics.
Ramirez won two world titles under Top Rank and is looking forward to regaining any world title belts under Golden Boy.
Ramirez lost to Josh Taylor in a junior welterweight unification world title bout by majority decision in 2021.
“I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division,” he said. “Thank you to Oscar and to Golden Boy for the opportunity.”
Vergil Ortiz Jr. dominant
Vergil Ortiz Jr. gave fans in attendance a treat.
He made quick work on Thomas Dulorome when he landed a left shot to his body with a knockout win in the first round.
The time of the stoppage was 2:39.
Next up for Ortiz is a clash with Tim Tszyu on Aug. 3.
