Jose Ramirez vs. Viktor Postol quotes for this Saturday on ESPN+

By Top Rank - 08/26/2020 - Comments

ESPN+ stream to begin Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT – Finally! After a pair of fight, dates fell by the wayside, WBC/WBO junior welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez and former world champion Viktor Postol are set to fight Saturday evening from the MGM Grand “Bubble” (ESPN+ coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET).

They were scheduled to fight February 2 in China and May 9 in Fresno, Calif., but the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled those plans.

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In other action Saturday evening, junior welterweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr. will fight Canadian veteran Tony Luis, and Dominican knockout artist Elvis Rodriguez will look to extend his knockout streak to seven against Cody Wilson in a six-rounder at welterweight.

This is what Ramirez and Postol had to say at Thursday’s press conference.

Jose Ramirez

“After the big win against Hooker, I am ready to go and continue my journey to become an undisputed champion. I know Viktor Postol stands in the way of that, and he is a very experienced fighter. I have been training very, very hard for this fight.

Jose Ramirez vs. Viktor Postol quotes for this Saturday on ESPN+

“Due to the pandemic, the fight got rescheduled, but I stayed at the gym. I remained composed and patient. I have a great team and my family behind me.

I’m a man of faith. I believe everything happens for a reason, and now that I’m here, I can’t wait to showcase my talent on August 29. I want to show the world how much I have grown and matured as a unified champion. My goal is to become a {undisputed} world champion.

“For the first date for this fight, I did a full training camp. The fight got rescheduled the same day I was supposed to depart, but luckily, I didn’t get to the airport. For the second date, I was in camp for five weeks before I got the call that the fight was going to get canceled again.

Now, this is another nine-week camp that I’ve been on. My last fight was 13 months ago, but it feels like it was yesterday because I’ve been in the gym the whole year and with this fight on my mind the whole time.”

Viktor Postol

“The first training camp was tough because I came to the U.S. two months before the fight, and we actually departed to China for the first fight date. It was a long flight. This camp has also been very long. I came three months before the fight date, but I feel good. I feel ready to fight.

Jose Ramirez vs. Viktor Postol quotes for this Saturday on ESPN+

“Jose is a good fighter. He is a good champion, but I know I have a good chance to win this fight. I have the motivation because this fight is for two belts. I’ll be ready.”

JOSE RAMIREZ (USA)

WBC Super Lightweight World Champion / 4th Title Defense
Age: 28 / Date of birth: August 12, 1992
Residence, birthplace: Avenal, California
Record: 25-0, 17 KOs / Total rounds: 115 / World championship fights: 4-0, 1 KO
Height: 5’10” – 178cm / Reach: 72.5″ – 184cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Rick Mirigian / Trainer: Robert Garcia

VIKTOR “The Iceman” POSTOL (Ukraine)

Ranked WBC No. 1 at Super Lightweight / Mandatory Challenger
Age: 31 / Date of birth: January 16, 1984
Residence: Kiev, Ukraine / Birthplace: Dimerca, Ukraine
Record: 31-2, 12 KOs / Total rounds: 264 / World championship fights: 1-1, 1 KO
Height: 5’11” – 180cm / Reach: 72″ – 183cm / Stance: Right-handed
Managers: Vadim Kornilov, Oleg Kovalchuk / Trainer: Freddie Roach

WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS

1. Roberto Cruz (Phil) 1963
2. Eddie Perkins (US) 1963 – 1965
3. Carlos Hernandez (Ven) 1965 – 1966
4. Sandro Lopopolo (Ita) 1966 – 1967
5. Paul Fuji (US) 1967 – 1968
6. Pedro Adigue (Phil) 1968 – 1970
7. Bruno Arcari (Italy) 1970 – 1974
8. Pedro Fernández (Spain) 1974 – 1975
9. Saensak Muangsurin (Thai) 1975 – 1976
10. Miguel Velazquez (Spain) 1976
11. Saensak Muangsurin (Thai) * 1976 – 1978
12. Sang-Hyun Kim (Korea) 1978 – 1980
13. Saoul Mamby (US) 1980 – 1982
14. Leroy Haley (US) 1982 – 1983
15. Bruce Curry (US) 1983 – 1984
16. Bill Costello (US) 1984 – 1985
17. Lonnie Smith (US) 1985 – 1986
18. Rene Arredondo (Mexico) 1986
19. Tsuyoshi Hamada (Japan) 1986 – 1987
20. Rene Arredondo (México) * 1987
21. Roger Mayweather (US) 1987 – 1989
22. Julio Cesar Chavez (Mex) 1989 – 1994
23. Frankie Randall (US) 1994
24. Julio Cesar Chavez (Mex) * 1994 – 1996
25. Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mex) 1996 – 1997
26. Konstantin Tszyu (Australia) 1998 – 2003
27. Arturo Gatti (Canada) 2004 – 2005
28. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US) 2005
29. Junior Witter (GB) 2006 – 2008
30. Timothy Bradley Jr. (US) 2008 – 2009
31. Devon Alexander (US) 2009 – 2011
32. Timothy Bradley Jr. (US) * 2011
33. Erik Morales (Mexico) 2011 – 2012
34. Lucas Matthysse (Arg) Interim 2012 – 2013
35. Danny Garcia 2012 – 2015
36. Viktor Postol (Ukraine) 2015 – 2016
37. Terence Crawford (US) 2016 – 2018
38. Regis Prograis (US) Interim 2018
39. Jose Ramirez (US) 2018 –
* Regained

TOP 10
1. Julio Cesar Chavez (Mex)
2. Oscar de la Hoya (US/Mex)
3. Kostya Tszyu (Rus/Aust)
4. Roger Mayweather (US)
5. Timothy Bradley (US)
6. Bruno Arcari (Italy)
7. Arturo Gatti (Canada)
8. Danny Garcia (US)
9. Devon Alexander (US)
10. Saensak Muangsurin (Thai)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY

35 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, four of whom have regained the title: Saensak Muangsurin (Thailand), Rene Arredondo (Mexico), Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico), Timothy Bradley Jr. (US).

129 WBC super lightweight world title bouts have been held in WBC history.
This will be the 74th WBC super lightweight world title fight in the United States in WBC history.

MEMORABLE FIGHTS:
Sep. 14, 2018 Jose Ramirez W12 Antonio Orozco – Fresno
Mar. 7, 2018 Jose Ramirez W12 Amir Imam – New York
Aug. 19, 2017 Terence Crawford KO3 Julius Indongo – Lincoln
July 23, 2016 Terence Crawford W12 Viktor Postol – Las Vegas
Oct. 3, 2015 Viktor Postol KO10 Lucas Matthysse – Carson
July 14, 2012 Danny Garcia TKO4 Amir Khan – Las Vegas
Jan. 29, 2011 Timothy Bradley Jr. TW10 Devon Alexander – Pontiac
Mar. 6, 2010 Devon Alexander TKO8 Juan Urango – Uncasville
June 25, 2005 Floyd Mayweather Jr. TKO6 Arturo Gatti – Atlantic City
Jan. 29, 2005 Arturo Gatti KO5 James Leija – Atlantic City
Nov. 3, 2001 Konstantin Tszyu TKO2 Zab Judah – Las Vegas
June 7, 1996 Oscar de la Hoya TKO4 Julio Cesar Chavez – Las Vegas
Mar. 17, 1990 Julio Cesar Chavez TKO12 Meldrick Taylor – Las Vegas
May 13, 1989 Julio Cesar Chavez TKO10 Roger Mayweather – Inglewood
Nov. 12, 1987 Roger Mayweather TKO6 Rene Arredondo – Los Angeles
Apr. 8, 1978 Saensak Muangsurin KO13 Francisco Moreno – Hat Yai
Mar. 6, 1971 Bruno Arcari W15 Joao Henrique – Rome
July 22, 1987 Rene Arredondo TKO6 Tsuyoshi Hamada – Kokugican
June 15, 1963 Eddie Perkins W15 Roberto Cruz – Manila

WBC Statistics by Luis Medina.