Jose Ramirez fights to bring awareness to water crisis in Central California
Jose Ramirez already packs the house for eight-rounders in his native Fresno, Calif., but he's going outside his comfort zone.
The 2012 U.S. Olympian travels to Macau, China for his latest assignment, a scheduled eight-rounder vs. Ryusei Yoshida (26-7, 13 KOs) on Top Rank's Saturday card in the Asian gambling Mecca (6 a.m. ET, TopRank.TV). The fight will also be televised on same-day delay on UniMas at 11 p.m. ET.
"I feel like I'm on the same level as Oscar Valdez and Felix Verdejo," the soft-spoken Ramirez told Paste BN Sports during a phone interview. " … They got the opportunity to fight on HBO which is something I haven't got yet, but this show in Macau is going to allow me to showcase my talent in another market."
NOT AGAIN: Chavez Jr. fails to make weight
Ramirez, 22, is one of the top prospects in boxing and with his ardent following in Fresno, he projects as a major attraction if he continues to progress. He hails from Avenal, Calif., about one hour outside Fresno, where he's drawn crowds upward of 10,000, unheard of for a fighter with his experience.
The undefeated lightweight is charismatic and is fighting for something bigger than fame and fortune. Ramirez (14-0, 11 KOs) hopes to bring attention to the water crisis affecting farms in the Central Valley and is doing something about it. He joined the Latino Water Coalition two years ago in an attempt to aid the drought ravaging the local farms and economy and many of his bouts have promoted the group's work.
Ramirez isn't just a figurehead for the group, though. He's very much involved and recently made a trip to Sacramento to help get a bill passed to open up the water pipes.
"My parents worked in the field, I myself worked in the fields during the summer my freshman and sophomore year in high school. Agriculture provides for a lot of families in the valley," said Ramirez, who trains with Freddie Roach. "With the lack of water, the farmers can't really provide jobs. … There's agriculture everywhere around and because of lack of water there's thousands of people losing their jobs."
THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM? Arreola aims for Wilder
The 140-pounder must continue to win, though, to increase awareness. Ramirez sparred with Manny Pacquiao to help the Filipino prepare for Chris Algieri, and the experience with the future Hall of Famer was invaluable.
"It was an amazing experience to be able to step in the ring with one of the best fighters in our era," Ramirez said. "It was a learning experience for myself and something that growing up I wouldn't have imagined … to be in there with one of the best, it gives me the confidence to know I can be in there with anyone. And also my timing in the ring, sparring with one of the fastest fighters."
He hopes to fight on HBO later this year, following Top Rank's other blue-chip prospects who made their network debuts in 2015. But first he must travel halfway around the world. After all, he's not just fighting for himself - he carries an entire region on his back.