Jose Carlos Ramirez and Jose Pedraza are set to clash in the ring on Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET, in what promises to be an exciting bout between two former champions. The junior welterweight contest will happen at Save Mart Arena, Fresno, California, as a part of a fight card that will also see Joet Gonzalez take on Jeo Santisima and Gabriel Flores Jr meeting with Abraham Montoya in the lightweight bout.
Ramirez vs Pedraza Stats
Looking at the Jose Carlos “Jaguar” Ramirez stats
The former super lightweight world champion, Jose Carlos Pedraza, will look to bounce back from the last year’s defeat against Josh Taylor on Friday when he takes on Jose Pedraza at Save Mart Arena.
The 29-year-old is a well-known name in the boxing scene, having started his career as a decorated amateur. He won the US national amateur boxing lightweight championships and is also the Golden Gloves National Champion, two-time Junior Olympics national champion, and two-time Ringside World Champion.
Ramirez held a 26-fight win streak, which began way back in December 2012, and ended on May 22, when Josh Taylor handed him the first loss of his career. Although a disappointing defeat, there is no shame in losing to the Scotsman, who has been unstoppable.
Still, losing the first bout of his career has likely affected Ramirez’s mindset, especially knowing that he realized he is no longer unbeaten – after ten years of dominating the scene. It’s also worth noting that Ramirez nearly lost against Viktor Postol, so he will definitely need to recapture his confidence.
Ramirez will have to count on his aggressive style to win this bout, which keeps his opponents moving constantly. He also has a fairly sturdy chin; however, Ramirez is not known for his punching power, even though he has 17 KOs from 26 wins.
There is a good reason why Ramirez is favored for this bout. The biggest one is his style of fighting.
Since neither fighter is expected to score a KO, there’s a good chance this bout goes the distance, and if it does, Ramirez should be favored to come out ahead. As a more aggressive fighter, Ramirez should score more punches which the judges will like, so if it comes to a unanimous decision, Ramirez will be crowned the winner.
Looking at the Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza stats
Like his next opponent, Jose Pedraza had a very successful career as an amateur. He was the Caribbean and Central American champion and World Championship silver medallist, so he definitely has accolades to show for.
Similarly, Pedraza enjoyed a 22-fight winning streak, which lasted for almost six years (Feb 2011 – Jan 2017), until he met with Gervonta Davis, who beat him at Barclays Center after seven rounds.
But even that defeat did not stop Pedraza, who ended up moving up the weight class and won the WBO lightweight title by beating Raymundo Beltran in August 2018, only to lose the belt against Vasiliy Lomachenko in December. He has since fought five fights and won all but one, for a combined record of 29-3.
While an excellent fighter, Pedraza is not exactly a power puncher, but he is fast and accurate. Nicknamed the “Sniper,” Pedraza is known for picking his shots and doing so very efficiently. Moreover, he is known as a counter-puncher, and a very patient fighter, which should come in handy on Friday.
Another thing working in Pedraza’s favor is that he will not be cutting weight like Ramirez. Still, expect Pedraza to be on the back paddle for most of the fight.
Betting Trends for Ramirez vs Pedraza
- Jose Carlos Ramirez is 26-1
- Jose Pedraza has a career record of 29-3
- Ramirez has scored 17 Kos over his career, Pedraza has 14
- Over their last five outings, the fighters have won only one with a TKO
- Ramirez’s only defeat was a UD
Ramirez vs Pedraza Prediction
Jose Pedraza enters this bout as a +400 underdog, which seems a bit high and makes him a solid bet. Admittedly, he has not achieved as much over his career as Ramirez and has lost three times as many bouts. Still, Pedraza is an excellent boxer and has the tools needed to exploit Ramirez’s weaknesses.
As noted, Ramirez relies a lot on forwarding pressure, which could leave him exposed, giving the “Sniper” a chance to punish him. Pedraza has dealt with fighters who use the same style before, so there is no reason to doubt his ability to do it again.
Still, due to the fighter’s style, we expect Pedraza to mostly defend himself, so if the fight goes to the decision, the judges will likely prefer Ramirez, who should land more punches. Nevertheless, Pedraza is definitely good enough to come out ahead and is a good bet as a +400 underdog.
Prediction: Jose Pedraza to win
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