Jose Ramirez should outlast the resilient Viktor Postol as we look ahead to Saturday’s bout in Las Vegas with our latest boxing betting preview.
WBC and WBO super lightweight champion Jose Ramirez has a unification fight on his mind, but first he needs to get past Viktor Postol this weekend at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The bout has been rescheduled on two occasions in 2020, but Ramirez will be hoping it is worth the wait as he attempts to put himself in line for even bigger fights in 2021
Unification on Ramirez’s Mind
Ramirez is one of the rising stars of American boxing at present, having won all 25 of his fights so far.
The ‘Jaguar’ has stopped 17 of his opponents inside the distance, and he has been a world champion since 2018.
Ramirez beat Amir Ahmed Imam at Madison Square Garden in March 2018 to win the WBC strap, and he has since beaten Antonio Orozco, Jose Zepeda and Maurice Hooker.
The clash with Hooker last July was one of the highlights of 2019 for boxing fans, Ramirez defeated his fellow countryman via stoppage to claim the WBO crown.
The 28-year-old was booked to fight Postol in March and then May, but he will finally get the chance to shine this week in Nevada.
Should Ramirez come out on top then that will likely set up a showdown with Scotland’s Josh Taylor, who holds the IBF and WBA super lightweight belts.
Taylor is booked to fight IBF mandatory Apinun Khongsong on September 26, and as long as he wins, the fans are in line to see a colossal unification clash.
Ramirez is as short as 4/25 for the win this weekend, but it is easy to see why given his phenomenal record and performances since he became a world champion.
Lack of Activity Could be Postol’s Undoing
This weekend’s fight is not the one the fans wanted, but it should still be a competitive clash.
Ukraine’s Postol is known for his resilient approach, but at the 36 this could be his last hurrah on the big stage.
10/3 chance Postol made a name for himself in 2015 when he stopped Lucas Matthysse to win the WBC super lightweight title.
He then lost that strap to Terence Crawford, while his only other defeat came at the hands of Taylor.
But neither of them could stop him inside the distance and Postol has responded by beating Siar Ozgul and Mohamed Mimoune.
Postol’s last bout came in April 2019, and a lack of action since then should be a worry for his supporters.
With Ramirez being the younger of the two, he should be fresh and ready to take control of the fight before claiming the win in Las Vegas.
Ramirez needs to be patient
Although he has proven his class time and time again, Ramirez needs to be wary of Postol’s durability.
Even though the challenger may run out of steam, that is not to say he will not be in the fight come the final bell.
Ramirez has the power to register a knockout victory, but Postol will be eager not to get stopped, especially if this is to be his last hurrah on the world.
Backing the fight to go over 10.5 rounds at 2/7 should be considered with Ramirez expected to be challenged but come through unscathed.
