Jose Ramirez, the former WBC junior welterweight world champion was in the building to support the Top Rank Inc event that saw Janibek Alimkhanuly knock out Steven Butler in two rounds. Ramirez recently fought in Fresno, California, as he stopped Richard Commey, as Ramirez is letting it be known he wants the winner of Josh Taylor versus Teofimo Lopez.
Ramirez, who talked with ProBox TV News on Saturday night was asked about a slew of issues, one of which is the most famous Mexican fighter currently fighting in the sport of boxing - Canelo Alvarez.
“Canelo needs to step it up,” said Ramirez bluntly. “Canelo did have any problems with Ryder throughout the whole fight, but he needs to bring that killer instinct back so people can see that young Canelo, that strong Canelo, we have a lot of talent at 168 [lbs], David Benavidez, you have the other guy that just won [David Morrell] he is another hungry guy.
Even with a critical eye on Canelo Alvarez from Jose Ramirez, he still views Canelo Alvarez as the face of boxing. A label that Gervonta Davis is actively campaigning for currently as he looks to become the main fighter of the modern era.
As for what Ramirez expects from Canelo Alvarez. Ramirez seems to want to see more combination punching from Ramirez as opposed to one shot at a time that Canelo has fallen in love with over the past couple of years during his run at super middleweight.
“I think for us, you know, Canelo [has] that experience, he has the power,” remarked Ramirez. “I just actually wish he was a little bit more active, those three punch combinations that he would throw. [Instead of throwing] that one punch [at a time], trying to use his power too much but I think Canelo has the experience just go back [to his old-style] and he knows he has to do.”
Yet, Ramirez sees a bit of himself in Canelo, as Canelo has become obsessed with rematching Dmitry Bivol after losing to him. Ramirez remarked in this same interview he wants to rematch Josh Taylor because that is the fighter who beat him. Ramirez wants revenge and he understands Canelo’s mental state in terms of going after Taylor.
“Canelo has worked his way to the position where he could dictate his own career,” said Ramirez. “You know what I mean? So I'm, I'm not mad at him, that's what you’re supposed to do, and he wants to go out there and get that rematch, you know, I don't blame him, bro, because us Mexicans, and when we lose want to get that, you know, we to get that espina [revenge] out, get that rematch. Trust me, I do against [Josh] Taylor. I get where Canelo is coming from.”
In the end, Ramirez is not unlike all of us. Ramirez wants to see the fight we all want to see. Canelo against David Benavidez, which is slowly becoming one of the most anticipated fights in the sport.
“David Benavidez, he throws a lot of punches and has a lot of power,” explained Ramirez. “He's young and he's hungry. So that's a fight I would like to see.”
