MORENO VALLEY, California – Jose Ramirez knows how it looks. A former champion coming off two losses with nearly 200 rounds of professional mileage on his body can lead to ominous conclusions.
He’s done. Playing out the string. Ready to yield to the next generation.
Not yet, Ramirez said Thursday while emerging from a workout at the loaded Robert Garcia Boxing Academy.
Leaning on credibility that includes being a U.S. Olympian and former unified 140lbs champion whose lone losses are to undisputed champions Josh Taylor and Devin Haney along with then-unbeaten Arnold Barboza Jnr, Ramirez, 29-3 (18 KOs), reminded, “I’m only 33.”
The Central California fighter told BoxingScene he expects to find more comfort and perhaps a fountain-of-youth injection by moving up to welterweight.
He speculated a return date of August or September, saying an undercard spot on the discussed September 12 Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn card could be ideal.
The targeted opponent is fellow Golden Boy Promotions’ welterweight Alexis Rocha, 26-2-1 (16 KOs), BoxingScene has learned.
“Things are looking good. I’ve been here for seven weeks, training three-four days a week,” said Ramirez, who last fought on the May 2025 New York Times Square card and was beaten by Haney on wide scorecards. “Mentally, I’m locked in. I feel good, I feel strong and I’m excited to go up to 147, go out there and work my way back up to the top.”
Ramirez manager Rick Mirigian was earlier working on a proposal to bring U.K.’s Jack Catterall to Fresno, California, for a Ramirez bout, but Catterall landed a WBA secondary title shot and defeated Shakhram Giyasov last month to now set his sights on full champion Rolly Romero.
“We still want the big fights. I have the fan base to follow me anywhere I fight,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez has grown into an elder statesman of sorts among the talented Garcia gym that includes unified super-flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla, unbeaten junior-middleweight Vergil Ortiz Jnr and 140lbs title contenders Lindolfo Delgado and Oscar Duarte.
“A lot of the young pros look up to me, see me still train and they ask questions. It’s great. This gym here is very family oriented,” he said. “We back each other up. Everybody works hard, and we push each other to train hard. Robert and the whole team … they’ve done a great job.”
Ramirez is looking forward to fighting in a full arena for the first time in more than two years when he returns.
He foresees reverting to his prime, when he successfully defended his 140lbs belt four times and memorably stopped Texas’ Maurice Hooker in his home state to stand as a unified champion in 2019.
“One of my biggest mistakes was fighting at 140 for way too long,” he said. “But right now my mindset is good. I feel happy, relaxed and confident. I’m sparring some middleweights and I feel very strong.
“I’ve been blessed in my career. I’m not fighting for money. I’m fighting for legacy now and this is my last chapter, and hopefully it’s a long and good one.”
