The pride of California’s Central Valley is taking his high-octane act to China.
Junior welterweight titleholder Jose Ramirez will defend his belts against mandatory challenger Viktor Postol on Feb. 1 at the Mission Hills Haikou in the port city of Haikou, Hainan, Top Rank announced earlier this week. The fight will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Ramirez (25-0, 17 knockouts) is coming off a career-best win over Maurice Hooker to unify two of the four major belts in the division. He had surgery on his left hand following the fight. Ramirez, of Avenal, won his first title against Amir Imam at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in 2018.
“I am excited to defend my belts against Viktor Postol to kick off my 2020 schedule,” Ramirez said. “I am a world champion, so it is my honor to defend my titles in front of the great fans in China. It is going to be a great experience, and I am glad that my fans back home will be able to watch me live on ESPN. As a unified champion, I am hungrier than ever.”
A former titleholder, Postol (31-2, 12 KOs) emerged on the world scene in 2015 when he knocked out Lucas Matthysse in the 10th round to win a vacant title. He lost it to Terence Crawford the following year and later came up short against Josh Taylor, the division’s other partially unified champion, in the World Boxing Super Series. Postol became the mandatory challenger for Ramirez’s WBC belt after his points win over Mohamed Mimoune in April.
“It’s a big opportunity for me and a big honor to share the ring with one of the best fighters in my division,” Postol said. “I know Ramirez, as we sparred together in the past. I’m looking forward to a great fight in China.”
Top Rank has staged fights in China in the past, most notably with Zou Shiming and Manny Pacquiao in the Chinese outpost of Macau.