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Ramirez to train with Pacquiao; Scott wins for Goossen; Buffer turns 70

Fighters Network
03
Nov

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Unbeaten junior welterweight prospect Jose Ramirez will face an opponent to be determined on the Dec. 13 undercard of the Tim Bradley-Diego Chaves welterweight fight at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Top Rank Promotions announced on Sunday.

A 22-year-old 2012 Olympian, Ramirez (12-0, 9 knockouts) is coming off last month’s 50-second knockout of David Rodela before a large crowd at the Selland Arena in Fresno, Calif.



“I wasn’t expecting it to turn out like this,” said Ramirez, who stopped Rodela with a left hook, “but I am very happy I did because it took all of the nerves out of my mom and dad and we did it in front of my hometown fans and friends.”

Ramirez is in the Philippines helping to prepare Manny Pacquiao for the Nov. 22 defense of his WBO welterweight title against WBO 140-pound titleholder Chris Algieri. The bout will be fought at a 144-pound catchweight in Macao, China.

“Jose is a great fighter, a future world champion,” said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank. “We had a big crowd with a big
fight atmosphere in Fresno.”

Also on the Bradley-Chaves card is a bout between southpaws Andy Lee and unbeaten Matt Korobov for the WBO’s vacant middleweight belt and a junior welterweight clash featuring Mauricio Herrera against undefeated Jose Benavidez Jr.

 

Note: Quotes from a Top Rank release

 

MALIK SCOTT WINS DEDICATED TO DAN GOOSSEN

Heavyweight Malik Scott unanimously decisioned Alex Leapai on Friday in Queensland, Australia, a fight he dedicated to the late Dan Goossen.

Promoted by Goossen Promotions, Scott, 34, bounced back from a 96-second stoppage loss to Deontay Wilder in March and fought in honor of Goossen, who died last month from complications from liver cancer. Goossen was 64.

“This one was for Dan. I was inspired throughout my training to win this fight for him. It wasn’t a difficult fight for me,” said Scott, who is 37-2-1 with 13 knockouts. “I stuck to my game plan and got [Leapai] running into my combinations. I dominated the fight from the opening bell. Wilder. I want to fight Deontay Wilder again. I’m positive the results would be different this time.”

Scott has also battled to a draw with Vyacheslav Glazkov in February 2013 and was stopped in the sixth round of his following fight by Dereck Chisora in July 2013.

“We’re very proud of Malik’s performance. He went across the globe and won the fight decisively against Leapai. This puts him back on track and headed into much bigger fights in 2015,” said matchmaker Tom Brown, Goossen’s brother-in-law.

“He’s had some bad luck against Glazkov with the scores and Chisora with the quick count over the last two years but the way he fought tonight shows that he can compete with any of the top heavyweights in the world.”

Leapai (30-6-3, 24 KOs), who is exactly one year older than Scott at 35, lost for the second straight time, having been stopped in the fifth round of his previous fight against RING champion Wladimir Klitschko in April.

 

MICHAEL BUFFER TURNED 70 ON SUNDAY

Hall of Fame boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer, known for his phrase, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble,” has a youthful appearance belying the fact that he turned 70 on Sunday.

Buffer has survived a three-year stint in the army during the Vietnam War as well as a bout with throat cancer in 2008.

“All the traveling can take a toll on one’s health if one doesn’t diet properly,” said Buffer. “So I try to take it easy with the airplane meals and late-night snacks. Most hotels have gyms today, so Christine and I will hit the treadmill or, weather permitting, go for a brisk walk.”

Regarding retirement, Buffer said, “Probably not too soon,” given that boxers such as WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin and 49-year-old Bernard Hopkins serve as inspirations.

“I love what I do and when I see some of these fighters like Gennady Golovkin, for example, achieving stardom or watching a legend like ‘B-Hop’ make history,” said Buffer, “it makes me want to stick around a little longer because the fan in me still loves being in center ring then sitting at ringside to watch the action.”

Buffer lists among his non-boxing highlights an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, when he surprised his then-girlfriend, Christine, with a marriage proposal as part of a skit.

Michael’s younger brother, Bruce, has a similar role in UFC as the promotion’s announcer.

 

Read more:

Buffer’s top 10 most memorable fights

 

ANTHONY FITZGERALD: GARY O’SULLIVAN’s ‘GOT NO BALLS’

Middleweight Anthony Fitzgerald (16-6, 4 KOs) says rival Gary O’Sullivan (17-1, 10 KOs) has been “fighting bums” in advance of their Nov. 15 clash in support of Matthew Macklin’s 160-pound bout against Jorge Sebastian Heiland at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

“I am relaxed but I am going in for a war,” said Fitzgerald, a winner of two consecutive bouts after having lost two straight. “It’s the biggest fight of my career as it’s ‘Put up or shut up’ now. He’s the one who has been padding his record by fighting bums. I haven’t. I’ve been looking to fight the best and that is what I have done.”

O’Sullivan was last in action for a majority decision over Jose Medina in June that helped him rebound from a unanimous decision loss to undefeated Billy Joe Saunders in July 2013.

“He’s boxed two names in his career; the first was Matthew Hall, and with no disrespect to Matthew, but his career was on the slide and [O’Sullivan] barely beat him,” said Fitzgerald, referring to O’Sullivan’s unanimous decision over Hall in July 2012. “Had Matthew been at his best, [O’Sullivan] would’ve lost. Then he boxed Billy Joe Saunders and he got schooled. He’s got no balls and he’s getting bashed up on Nov. 15.”