LOS ANGELES – After years of crossing each other’s paths and climbing through the ranks together, junior welterweights Jose Ramirez and Arnold Barboza Jr. will finally square off in the squared circle.
Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs), a former unified 140-pound titlist, and Barboza (30-0, 11 KOs) had both been signed to Top Rank and manager Rick Mirigian in recent years.
But a fight never came to fruition between the 32-year-old Californian combatants.
On Wednesday at The Mayan, both fighters, who are now promoted by Oscar De La Hoya, finally came to a head, respectfully, to announce their bout on November 16 as the co-main event of the Golden Boy Promotions “Latino Night” event in Saudi Arabia.
“This is a fight I’ve been wanting since 2019 but for whatever reason it never happened,” said Barboza. “I was treated like a stepchild, watching Ramirez get main event fights, big fights and promoted right while I was scratching and clawing and banging on the door.
“I tried every forum and even signed with the same thief manager. I’m not with him anymore, and the fight happens. Thanks to Oscar De La Hoya. He’s a man of his word. When I signed with Golden Boy, he said I was going to get this fight, and he was a man of his word.
“I respect Jose Ramirez as a fighter and person. I know he’s not scared of anybody. But this is personal. I’m coming with everything. I’m training in Big Bear, California harder than ever. I’m going to give it my all and come out on top November 16.”
After moving on from Mirigian, Barboza signed an advisory deal with respected boxing broker Steve Bash to better guide his career.
In April, Barboza sneaked by with a split decision win against tricky southpaw Sean McComb to keep his undefeated record intact. It was the second fight of Barboza’s Golden Boy deal. During his promotional debut in January, when Barboza stopped Xolisani Ndongeni in eight rounds, Ramirez was again front and center and in the spotlight, as it was announced at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas and on air on DAZN that Ramirez had signed a promotional deal with Golden Boy.
“Arnold Barboza said he was chasing me but I was trying to unify titles and become undisputed,” said Ramirez. “I got busy. But now he stands in the way for me to reclaim my titles. It’s time to get it on. I’m grateful for the opportunity. It’s going to be a great show. It will be the kind of fight to get everyone in Saudi Arabia excited about boxing.”
Ramirez first became a 140-pound WBC titleholder in 2018 against Amir Imam, and defended the belt against Antonio Orozco and Jose Zepeda before stopping then-WBO titleholder Maurice Hooker in 2019 in six rounds to unify titles in the division. After a majority decision win against Viktor Postol in 2020, Ramirez was dropped twice and lost the chance to become an undisputed junior welterweight champion against Josh Taylor in 2021.
“My biggest enemy in the sport of boxing has been my inactivity,” said Ramirez, who will be fighting twice in the same calendar year for the first time since 2019.
“I respect Barboza as a fighter and this is one of the fights that excited me and motivates me. It pushes me to train hard.
“It’s a great fight and it’s time for me to make a statement. I’ve been under the big lights and have the experience. I’m ready.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Guardian, Newsweek, Men’s Health, NFL.com, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Magazine and more. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
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