LAS VEGAS — Two prominent boxers are unconcerned about UFC's push to host events on the weekend closest to Mexican Independence Day.
Though there were events held that coincided with Mexican Independence Day in the early 1970s, it wasn't until Don King brought Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Las Vegas in 1991 that it became a tradition with the Mexican legend fighting on that weekend every year from 1991 to 1995.
Since then, Floyd Mayweather and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez have had box office success on that weekend, however, that changed this year when MMA market-leader UFC held UFC Noche on September 16.
In year's past, that was Canelo's date. This year, Premier Boxing Champions, via TGB Promotions, boxed Canelo instead on September 30.
UFC's Noche show was a success, with Mexican fighter Alexa Grasso retaining her UFC championship after a draw in the headlining bout against Valentina Shevchenko.
After, UFC boss Dana White told ProBox TV and other reporters that he'll be hosting UFC shows on Mexican Independence Day annually, regardless of whether boxing tries to host an event on that night, or not.
We asked two prominent Mexican fighters, Jesus Ramos and Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez, if there is anything for boxing to worry about when it comes to the UFC and its attempt to wrest that date away from the boxing calendar.
"I feel like there is a lot of Mexican fans who love boxing," Ramos, who fights Erickson Lubin on Saturday, told us.
PBC regards Ramos as a future superstar as it continually places the aspiring world title champion on some of its biggest shows of the year.
On Saturday, his fight against Lubin serves as the co-main event to the headlining act — Canelo vs. Charlo.
Should he win, then he'll be ever closer to a world title shot of his own and, perhaps one day, headlining a Cinco de Mayo or Mexican Independence Day event.
"I don't feel like we're in danger [of losing Mexican Independence Day to UFC on an ongoing basis]," Ramos told ProBox TV.
"And the way things are going, there are fights to be made," he added.
"Mexican fans are always loyal to boxing. We'll see how it happens, but I feel we're not in danger at all."
Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez, who headlines a fight against Joe Smith Jr. at a Golden Boy Promotions event October 7 in Las Vegas, said having both sports creating events around Mexicans "is good for all the fans."
He told us he likes "massive shows," adding: "I think sometimes you'll see someone prefer boxing."
Zurdo finished by remarking that "Boxing will always have the support of Mexicans."
