Arnold Barboza-Jose Ramirez no longer title eliminator

The junior welterweight fight between former titleholder Jose Ramirez and Arnold Barboza Jnr, will no longer be a WBO eliminator as previously anticipated. Nor will it be fought over 12 rounds. 

Instead, Wednesday’s media day confirmed Saturday’s bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will be contested as a 10-round fight.

“Ramirez/Barboza was never ordered or sanction as a eliminator,” Gustavo Olivieri, the president of the WBO, told BoxingScene. “They simply went forward with a voluntary 10-round fight.”

At media day, the decision appeared to come down to Barboza Jnr, who had grown weary of paying WBO’s sanctioning fees without a title shot in return. Despite a career that saw Barboza ranked as high as No. 1 by the WBO, which is where he currently sits, the undefeated Californian is still waiting for his first world title fight. 

“I haven’t had issues with [the WBO] personally,” Barboza said during Golden Boy Promotions’ “Latino Night” media workout livestream. “But in the past, like, four or five fights, I paid sanctioning fees and haven’t gotten a title shot. I fought Alex Saucedo, I fought who I had to fight, and I haven’t gotten a title shot.

“I hope that I can get a title shot from any organization,” Barboza said. “But it got to the point where, I mean that is actually money coming out my pocket for my kids.”

Barboza, who holds a record of 30-0 (11 KOs), has built a strong resume mostly on undercards with wins over Alex Saucedo, Mike Reed, Jose Pedraza, and the previously unbeaten Danielito Zorrilla, yet the major title shots have remained elusive. Signed with Top Rank and now Golden Boy Promotions, he’s voiced frustration over missed opportunities. “I fought guys that should’ve gotten me a title shot. Other fighters faced lesser opposition and still got theirs,” Barboza said.

Olivieri feels differently. “As to [Barboza’s] assertion of not mandating his shot, we don’t operate that way,” he told BoxingScene. “When the proper time comes and having considered…the relevant provisions to designate a mandatory…we will proceed accordingly and notify all parties.”

Ramirez, also 32, is a former unified champion in the junior welterweight division. Since losing to Josh Taylor in a bid to become the undisputed champion, the Avenal, California, native Ramirez has won three straight fights. Ramirez, who trains under trainer Robert Garcia, stands at 29-1 (18 KOs) and is ready to further solidify his comeback. He just has two less rounds he has to fight. 

Golden Boy Promotions has yet to release an official comment.