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Taylor v Ramirez betting tips: Scot wants to be undisputed king

| 19.05.2021
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Preview of Saturday’s fight in Las Vegas

Josh Taylor knows holding all four major world titles at the same time in any division is a rare occurrence so the Scottish fighter is determined to take his chance against Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas this weekend.

The Prestonpans light-welterweight will put his WBA and IBF titles on the line and is the clear favourite at 2/5 to snatch the WBC and WBO crowns from his American rival in a bout to determine top dog at 140lbs.

Only four other male fighters – middleweight duo Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor, cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk and light-welterweight Terence Crawford – have reigned as undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

And Taylor, who is 5/6 to win on points or technical decision and 7/2 to get the stoppage win on Saturday night, is itching to join such elite company ahead of just his 18th professional contest.

The 30-year-old said: “I always thought I would become world champion but the prospect of becoming undisputed champion was maybe a little bit too farfetched.

“Those undisputed fights are very few and far between these days and it’s just a dream come true, it’s a massive fight. I didn’t think I’d be fighting to become undisputed world champion and certainly not as quickly as this.

“If I pull this win off, which I believe I’m 100 per cent going to do, achievement-wise it’s going to be up there with the best of them. It would be a massive achievement to cement my name and legacy in the history books.”

Josh Taylor

Taylor has won all 17 of his contests since switching to the paid ranks the year after winning gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, while he is continually seeking the biggest challenges in his weight category.

His last five opponents had a combined record of 110 wins and just one defeat prior to stepping in against Taylor, who is 13/8 to get a unanimous decision against Ramirez and 12/1 to get the nod by a majority verdict.

Taylor knocked out hard-hitting mandatory challenger Apinun Khongsong within the first three minutes last September and, for punters looking for a big price in terms of Taylor v Ramirez betting tips, he is 66/1 to collect a second successive first-round stoppage.

Ramirez poses greatest challenge yet

Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs) is arguably Taylor’s toughest test and the 28-year-old Californian is 2/1 to have his hand raised and 7/2 by decision or 13/2 by stoppage.

Taylor, though, is encouraged by his adversary’s recent performances, with Ramirez struggling against Jose Zepeda in February 2019 and Viktor Postol last August, either side of a fine stoppage of Maurice Hooker in July 2019.

Taylor, who himself was tested by Postol in June 2018 before dropping the Ukrainian en route to a wide-points win, said of Ramirez: “He’s a great, come forward, pressure fighter.

“He attacks the body and head well and punches in bunches. It has the makings of a good fight but I see a lot of things in his game that I can exploit.

“I don’t think he has fought the same level of opponent as myself in his career.

“He’s only boxed Maurice Hooker. He boxed Jose Zepeda and was very lucky to get away with the decision, he was very lucky to get away with the decision against Viktor Postol as well. I’ve not been too impressed with his form.”

View the latest Taylor vs Ramirez odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication

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Author

Andrew McDermott

Andrew is a sports betting content journalist at PA Media. He is a lifelong Huddersfield Town fan but when he isn't reminiscing about their Premier League days he is also a junior cricket coach and enjoys cycling.