Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Thoughts On Hooker-Ramirez


The theme leading up to the Jr. Welterweight encounter between undefeated world champions Maurice Hooker and Jose Ramirez was the beginning of a re-unification process for the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. It is true that whenever there is a unification bout in the sport that it accomplishes two important things. Number one, it creates interest. Interest from both the Boxing enthusiast, who watches the sport closely as well as the interest of the casual fan who may more appropriately be categorized as a general sports fan,

Number two and perhaps, more importantly, it benefits the sport when two world champions put their respective claims to a world championship on the line against each other. When the politics that be in the sport do not serve as an obstacle to a potential fight like a unification bout from being made. A scenario that can simply be summed up as when the best fighters in a given weight class and by extension the entire sport face the best competition available or to say it more simply, “The Best Fighting The Best.”

When such a scenario takes shape and you have the added element of two unbeaten fighters who are each in their respective physical primes, more often than not the ingredients produce classic fights. On July 27th, Hooker and Ramirez that at the College Park Center in Arlington, TX to unify the WBO and WBC Jr. Welterweight crowns. There was a slight element of controversy in the opening round as Ramirez was credited with a knockdown of Hooker when he landed a jab, but stepped on Hooker’s foot in the process resulting in the knockdown. While the knockdown was incorrectly ruled by Referee Mark Nelson, it did not appear that it would have a lasting impact on the fight.

Although this was as Yours truly stated in previewing this fight an encounter between two boxer/punchers, the tempo of the combat from the outset was high paced and it appeared that neither fighter was interested in pacing themselves to go twelve rounds if need be. When it comes to fights like this, it will often boil down to which fighter lands first with their power punches. In this fight however, both fighters had success in landing power shots. One thing that stuck out to me as the fight progressed was how Ramirez was able to consistently close distance between himself and Hooker. Despite Hooker having a near eight-inch reach advantage, he was unable to keep Ramirez at a distance where theoretically the physics of the fight would be more in his favor.

It was nevertheless a back and forth battle in what turned out to be one of the best fights of 2019. The conclusion of the fight was both sudden and brutal as a left hook to the head from Ramirez in round six staggered Hooker and sent him back along the ropes. Quickly sensing that he had his opponent in trouble, Ramirez followed up with a brutal barrage of punches that forced Referee Mark Nelson to stop the fight.

Even though the ending of this fight was both quick and brutal, I felt that the stoppage of the fight was the appropriate call to make as Hooker appeared to be out on his feet and had his head snapped back several times by Ramirez in that follow-up barrage. While some fans under circumstances like the one where this fight was stopped are quick to criticize the stoppage and rule it “Bad”, it cannot and will not be overlooked by this observer that the sport has suffered two deaths within the last week related to traumatic brain injury as a result of injuries suffered while competing in the ring. Jr. Welterweights Hugo Santillan and Maxim Dadashev each succumbed to injuries sustained in separate bouts within the last week.

Although this observer did not cover either of those fights, I have been very vocal on social media platforms since the news of both men’s deaths became public with regard to the need for further regulation in the sport as well as sharing my opinion that all fighters who compete in combat sports should be and need to be respected by fans as each time a fighter competes they are risking their lives.

While by all accounts, the protocols that could be taken were in the aftermath of Maxim Dadashev’s fight against Subriel Matias in Oxon Hill. MD and there have been no reports indicating that similar protocols were not taken in regard to the aftermath of Hugo Santillan’s fight against Eduardo Abreu in San Nicolas, Argentina, it underscores both the dangers/risk associated with all combat sports and how sometimes split-second decisions need to be made, which unfortunately at times can be a matter of life and death.

Although when similar circumstances have befallen the sport in the past it is not uncommon to see both referees and athletic commissions be more cautious and at times be willing to stop fights earlier than what some believed should be the case, I believe in the case of Hooker-Ramirez the stoppage by Referee Mark Nelson was the correct call. As the sport deals with the circumstances of the deaths of both Dadashev and Santillin, it was refreshing to see both Hooker and Ramirez showing respect to one another both before and after the fight. A lesson in “Class” that everyone in the sport, fans, media, and the fighters who compete in it can learn from.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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