Undefeated junior welterweight world titleholders Jose Ramirez and Maurice Hooker both have been pressing their handlers for a major fight -- and now they have one.
Ramirez and Hooker will meet to unify their 140-pound world titles on July 27 (DAZN) after a deal was finalized Wednesday. They will box at the 7,000-seat College Park Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington, not far from Hooker's hometown of Dallas. A news conference is scheduled for Friday in Arlington.
Not only is it a rare fight matching unbeaten titleholders in their prime. It's one in which Ramirez and his promoter, Top Rank, are crossing the political divide to bring one of its marquee fighters from its broadcast platform, ESPN, to a competitor in DAZN, where Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, Hooker's co-promoter, has a deal.
"It's the right time, the right opportunity and a fight that Ramirez wanted, so everybody was a gentleman and polite and mature and we were able to facilitate a terrific unification match," Top Rank president Todd duBoef told ESPN. "It was all done collaboratively. We wanted to accommodate Ramirez and the fight fans the best we could."
The promoters began discussions about the fight last month, when Hearn reached out to Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti, and from there they were able to work it out.
"These are the fights that boxing needs, and the styles will jell into a real fight of the year contender," Hearn said. "Both champions believe they have the edge in this fight."
Ramirez (24-0, 16 KOs), 26, of Avenal, California, who is a big draw in nearby Fresno, California, will be going on the road to defend his belt for the third time after decision wins at home against Antonio Orozco in September and versus Jose Zepeda -- in a more difficult majority decision -- on Feb. 10.
"I am ready for my opportunity to unify the titles," Ramirez said. "To get the opportunity to be a unified champion is a blessing for me. I'm thankful to [promoter] Bob Arum and Top Rank for believing in me to go out there and get the job done. I'm going to push myself hard to make the team proud. This is a fight I wanted.
"I told my manager, Rick Mirigian, that I wanted to fight Maurice Hooker. I know this fight can take my career to the next level. I want to continue making statements at 140 pounds. I want to make it easier for people to decide who the best 140-pounder truly is."
Ramirez won a vacant belt in New York by lopsided decision against Amir Imam in March 2018, and he said he sees similarities between Hooker and Imam.
"I'm treating this fight the same as when I won the title in New York City against Amir Imam. He was the taller fighter, the bigger fighter," Ramirez said. "It's sometimes easier fighting someone in his backyard because it takes away some of my responsibilities behind the scenes. As the underdog, I have everything to win. It's not just about defending my title, but unifying the division, as well. I'm ready to prove myself and show everyone what Jose Ramirez is all about. I can't wait to bring Hooker's title back with me to California."
Hooker (26-0-3, 17 KOs), 29, traveled to former lightweight world titlist Terry Flanagan's hometown of Manchester, England, and handed Flanagan his first defeat by split decision to win a vacant title last June. Hooker has made two defenses: a seventh-round knockout of then-undefeated Alex Saucedo in his hometown of Oklahoma City in November (on ESPN because Top Rank won a purse bid for the mandatory bout); followed by a one-sided decision against then-unbeaten Mikkel LesPierre on March 9 in a fight Hooker badly struggled to make weight.
But Hooker said he can still make 140 pounds, and he has been anxious for a major fight.
"First of all, I want to thank my promoters Matchroom Boxing and Roc Nation for getting me this opportunity," Hooker said. "I want to show the world that I'm the best in the 140-pound division. My dream is to become the undisputed champion in my weight class. This unification fight with Jose Ramirez is a major step towards that goal.
"Training camp for Team Mighty Mo Hooker is well underway, and I'll be at my absolute best on July 27 to take the green belt from Ramirez. It will be a thrill to do this in front of my home crowd, and I'm looking forward to the energy they'll bring to the ring. I am a dream killer, and Ramirez will be my next victim coming July 27."
Dino Duva of Roc Nation Sports agreed.
"This is a big fight for Maurice and our team," he said. "We have been looking forward to it since he became a champion -- a title unification match in his hometown. Doesn't get any better for a fighter and his team. A victory over a fantastic champion like Jose Ramirez will catapult 'Mighty Mo' into superstar pound-for-pound status."
The Ramirez-Hooker winner could possibly fight for the undisputed title against the winner of the unification fight between Regis Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs), a New Orleans native, and Scotland's Josh Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs). They are set to meet this fall in the final of the World Boxing Super Series junior welterweight tournament.