Ramirez stops Hooker to unify belts
The unification bout did not disappoint between Jose Ramirez and Maurice Hooker as Ramirez is now the new unified champion at 140 pounds with his sixth-round stoppage in what was an all-out war in the ring.
The main event of the DAZN broadcast which took place at College Park Center in Hooker’s hometown of Arlington, Texas was a pick ’em fight before the bell and in the ring was just as much of a toss-up with a lot of great action.
The fight began with a bang as Ramirez knocked Hooker down late in the first round, when it looked like he had stepped on Hooker’s foot. Nonetheless, it was a 10-8 first-round for Ramirez.
From then on, it was back and forth action as both were exchanging shots for the rest of the contest. The one-shot that ended this fight, however, took place in the sixth round when Ramirez caught Hooker with a left coming in which staggered him. From there Hooker was out on his feet, and Ramirez pounced in before referee Mark Nelson stepped in, signaling an end to the bout.
The end time was 1:48 of round six by technical knockout.
MY GOD WHAT A FINISH BY JOSE RAMIREZ. pic.twitter.com/XfdJUWPphR
— Most Likely to Get Heatstroke in 75 Degree Weather (@BoxrecGrey) July 28, 2019
The punch stat totals listed show that this was two fighters letting their hands go with Hooker landing 129 out of 360 while Ramirez landed 99 out of 414 for the fight.
“I was so focused and determined. He landed some good shots, but they weren’t the best power he probably had. I knew I had to be careful that’s for sure,” Ramirez said after the fight.
When asked about where he wanted to go from here, his answer was simple:
“I want the other titles, that’s my goal.”
Ramirez (25-0, 17KOs) with the victory over Hooker (26-1-3, 17 KOs) is now in possession of WBC and WBO Super Lightweight straps. If his next step is all of the other titles, he’ll have to wait for the winner of the Josh Taylor-Regis Prograis winner of their matchup in the World Boxing Super Series in October.
#AndTheNew unified WBC/WBO Super Lightweight champion of the world is @RAMIREZBOXING, as he stops Maurice Hooker in Round 6! #HookerRamirez pic.twitter.com/EOrbmtt9Wm
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 28, 2019
Marquis Johns is a unknown humorist and avid boxing fan. His love for the sweet science goes back to when matches were 15 rounds and has been covering fights since closed-circuit pay-per-views. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth is not only a quote by Mike Tyson, it's also a pretty good reminder to keep your guard up.
