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Nick Parkinson
WBA-IBF world super lightweight champion Josh Taylor has called on boxing governing bodies and promoters to ensure he faces Jose Ramirez to unify all four titles.
Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs) outpointed Viktor Postol to defend his WBC and WBO world super lightweight title belts on Saturday, but was then told by the WBO earlier this week he had to begin negotiations with mandatory challenger Jack Catterall, Taylor’s fellow Briton.
However, the WBO may consider delaying the mandatory defence for a title unification bout against Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs); if Taylor can get past IBF mandatory challenger Apinun Khongsong (16-0, 13 KOs), of Thailand, at a television studio in London, England, on Sept. 26.
“That’s the politics of boxing, I just hope it [fight against Ramirez] gets made at some point even if it’s delayed by a mandatory,” Taylor told ESPN.
“It’s a massive fight for boxing given I get through my next fight in three weeks’ time. In my opinion it’s the biggest fight in boxing outside of the heavyweights Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua, and for all four world titles.
“It has to be made for the good of the sport, it would be a crying shame if it isn’t made because of this.”
Taylor, 29, from Edinburgh, Scotland, thought Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs), 28, of Avenal, California, was fortunate to win a majority points decision (114-114, 115-113, 116-112) over Ukrainian Postol — the former WBC champion — at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Taylor floored Postol on his way to a wide, unanimous points win two years ago in a more convincing victory.
“It was pretty close, I scored it a draw,” Taylor told ESPN.
“I thought Ramirez was lucky to get the decision. I wasn’t overly impressed by Ramirez, but I’m not focusing on him at the moment. I watched it and then turned it off because I have a job to do myself. I saw a lot of holes and gaps that I can expose should we meet.”
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who promotes both Ramirez and Taylor, has spoken of his aim to match the rival 140-pound champions by the end of the year.