Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBC super lightweight champion Jose Ramirez (24-0, 16 KOs) scored a hard-fought twelfth round majority decision over Jose “Chon” Zepeda (30-2, 25 KOs) on Sunday night in front of 14,034 fans at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California. It was a close fight. Ramirez applied the pressure and won by scores of 114-114, 115-113, 116-112.

Jose Ramirez: “He was a very a tough and smart southpaw. He came well prepared,” Ramirez said. “He kept a good range and distance. That made it a tough, close fight, but I think I pulled it off in the championship rounds. I landed the most effective punches.”

“I want to face the champions. I want unification bouts. If not, we might give it a shot at welterweight. I have the frame and size. I can still do 140 very comfortably, but I want to add more titles. If the opportunity is there, I could go to welterweight.”

Bob Arum: “It was a good, competitive, fight. I’m not the most unbiased judge, I had Jose winning 116-112. Jose closed the fight strong to win it. But give credit to Zepeda. He came to win and put on a great show.”

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