Blarney Alert! Bob Arum and Don King Resume Rivalry with St. Patrick’s Day Boxing Spectacular!
Jose Ramirez vs. Amir Imam for the WBC Super Lightweight World Title
AND
Oleksander Gvozdyk vs. Mehdi Amar for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight World Title
PLUS
The Return of Irish Olympic Hero, Michael Conlan
Saturday, March 17th at the “O’Mecca of Boxing”, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Live on ESPN, ESPN Desportes, and the ESPN App
Tickets go on Sale Tomorrow! Thursday, February 8th, at Noon EST
NEW YORK (February 7, 2018) — Hall of Fame promoters Bob Arumand Don King will resume one of boxing’s fiercest rivalries when the fighters they respectively guide — top-rated contenders JOSE RAMÍREZ and AMIR “Young Master” IMAM — collide for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Lightweight world title.
Ramirez vs. Imam will headline a spectacular St. Patrick’s Day world title extravaganza, Saturday, March 17, at the “O’Mecca of Boxing,” The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The Ramirez – Imam world championship event will be televised live and exclusively at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and stream live on the ESPN App at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Promoted by Top Rank®, and Don King Productions, in association with Madison Square Garden. Tickets to the Ramirez-Imam world championship event will go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, February 8, at Noon EST. Tickets priced at $206, $156, $106, $81, $56 and $31, can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.MSG.com.
Ramirez, (21-0, 16 KOs), from Avenal, Calif., an amateur standout and a 2012 U.S. Olympian, is known as much for what he does outside the ring as he does inside the ring. In both instances, he is a fierce fighter. Inside the ring, Jose has stopped 76% of the opponents he has faced, including previously undefeated Top-10 contender MIKE “Yes Indeed” REED, who needed to be rescued in the second round by the referee on November 11. It was the fourth consecutive knockout victory for Ramirez and the eighth in his last ten bouts. Outside the ring, Ramirez has been a tireless advocate for farmers of the Central Valley in California, known as the breadbasket of the U.S. Ramirez, a child of pickers and who spent many summers doing the same 10-hour shifts under the blazing sun, has been fighting for the farmers’ water rights for years. With many of his Fight For Water boxing events in the Fresno area benefitting the California Latino Water Coalition, it’s no wonder Ramirez, world-rated No. 3 by the WBC, has consistently broken his own boxing attendance records in the area’s most prominent Arenas.
“I’m honored for the opportunity to be able to fight for a world title. Since I was only eight years old, with a few amateur victories under my belt, I started dreaming of becoming a world champion. To have that green and gold belt like all the best fighters in history have. I’m living my dream,” said Ramirez. “I’m ready to work as hard as it takes, to overcome any obstacle and adversity that comes my way. I’ve sacrificed, worked, and challenged myself in a way most can’t imagine. Physically and mentally I’ll be more than ready come March 17th. I started drawing this picture 17 years ago, and I almost have it completed.”
Imam, (21-1, 18 KOs), who is a proud New Yorker, also comes from a strong amateur background. And like Ramirez rarely leaves a fight’s result in the hands of the judges. Imam boasts a victory by knockout ratio of 86%, including his last three and five of his previous seven. Imam said it best when it comes to his impressive number of stoppage victories, “I take care of business because you don’t get paid extra for overtime.” Known for his superior boxing skills and movement and excellent punching power, Imam enters this fight world-rated No. 1 by the WBC.
“I’ll have a really good opponent in front of me, and it’s going to be a good fight,” said Imam. “Fighting at Madison Square Garden, where I come from is a big thing, and it is a dream come true. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m working hard. I was ringside in Fresno for Jose’s last fight, so I know what he brings to the table. I know what I’ve got to do to win this belt. This fight will be a clash of two fighters with a lot of knockouts, and it will come down to who can stand up to that leather. If he does come straight forward, I will box and break him down and stop him. I’m not going to call for a knockout, but if it comes within itself, I am going to take advantage of it. Either way, I will leave that ring with the W.”
“Jose has worked hard to earn his world title shot and I know he and trainer Freddie Roach will come out blazing and give the fans at The Garden and those watching on all the ESPN platforms a night they will remember,” said Arum. “Jose has been a longtime advocate of the Central Valley farmers, fighting for their water rights. On March 17, I am confident he will become their first world champion boxer. The card will also feature the return of Michael Conlan. In just 12 months, he has made St. Patrick’s Day his date and The Garden his second home. I am confident that he will become one of its biggest box office attractions. This world championship event will feature exciting fights from top to bottom which I look forward to announcing soon.”
The fight between Ramirez and Imam will mark the first time Arum and King have battled each other promotionally on the same card since Miguel Cotto defended his World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Welterweight world title on March 12, 2011, stopping former world champion Ricardo Mayorga in the 12th-round.
“This is going to be a great fight. A fantastic fight and I know Amir is training hard to come in at his best because he wants that belt,” said King.
“Jose was so pumped up in his last fight when he destroyed unbeaten Mike Reed, a legitimate Top-10 contender,” said World-Famous Freddie Roach, Ramirez’s trainer. “He knew this title shot was at stake and he destroyed Reed. He will be ready to give it his all on March 17. What could be better than to win the WBC’s green belt on St. Patrick’s Day by driving Imam out of The Garden?”
“This is it, Madison Square Garden, the main event, ESPN’s flagship network in prime time for that coveted green belt. It’s Jose’s time to show the world a real star has arrived as the complete package, and that is something boxing has needed for a long time. “Jose has worked a lifetime to show everyone what I already know. The curtain rises on the Jose Ramirez Show on March 17th,” said Ramirez’s manager, Rick Mirigian.
“This is a big fight, a serious fight and we are going to be ready,” said Stacey McKinley, Imam’s head trainer, and manager. “We know what we are up against, Jose Ramirez is an Olympian, an undefeated fighter and he has a big following. He’s tall, he’s quick, and he throws a lot of punches. We certainly are not taking him lightly. His last fight against Michael Reed, Jose bombed him out like he bombed out the rest of them out. But Johnny Garcia fought Ramirez tough and went the distance. Amir carried Garcia until the fourth round just to get some work in.”
The world championship card will also feature a battle for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight title between unbeaten Ukrainian contender OLEKSANDR ‘The Nail’ GVOZDYK and French top-rated contender MEHDI AMAR.
Gvozdyk (14-0, 12 KOs), a former Olympic medalist from Kharkiv, Ukraine, enters this fight having won 12 of his last 14 matches by knockout, including all four of his NABF light heavyweight title fights. Gvozdyk is riding an eight-bout knockout-winning streak.
“I can explode with excitement with how happy I am right now. Seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel, means I’m getting one a step closer to a world title shot, said Gvozdyk. “Fighting for the Interim title and mandatory spot will put me in position to challenge whoever the champion will be at that time. I would like to thank the WBC for giving me this opportunity, my promoter Top Rank, my manager Egis Klimas, all my team that has worked hard to get me to this position. I want to give special thanks to ESPN who will feature my fight and my performance in front of a massive audience. My dream is slowly coming through; I’m also excited to fight in Madison Square Garden, New York, The Mecca of Boxing. As far as my opponent, I don’t know much about him, but I’m ready to find out on March 17th.”
“I’m very happy for Oleksandr because he is getting this WBC interim world title opportunity,” said Gvozdyk’s manager, Egis Klimas. “He is a step closer to be the mandatory challenger and to get in position to become a world champion in his next fight after March 17th. He is a hardworking and smart boxer, and he very well deserves to be where he is now.”
Amar (34-5-2, 16 KO’s) from Marseille, France, will make his United States debut when he battles Gvozdyk for the Interim WBC Heavyweight title. His fight against Gvozdyk will be his third outside of his native France.
The event will also mark the 2018 debut of Irish Olympic hero and The Garden’s fistic fan favorite MICHAEL “MICK” CONLAN in a six-round featherweight bout. Conlan (5-0, 4 KOs), of Belfast, made his pro debut on St. Patrick’s Day 2017, headlining and selling out The Theater at Madison Square Garden. On that historic night, Conlan was escorted into the ring by fellow countryman and UFC superstar Conor McGregor. The night was both memorable and exciting.
Conlan (5-0, 4 KO’s), from Belfast, Ireland, begins his sophomore professional year exactly where he started his freshman year — at The Garden. Conlan has steadily improved throughout his short professional tenure. His popularity has carried over to every city he has fought. A former amateur standout who was a 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist and 2015 World Amateur Champion — a first for a male Irish fighter. Conlan, who regularly sparred over the past year with world champion fighters Oscar Valdez and Jessie Magdaleno, now trains in the United Kingdom with Adam Booth.
“I’m looking forward to another fantastic night of boxing in The Theatre at Madison Square Garden! It will be exactly one year to the day since my professional debut in the Mecca of Boxing. I’m excited and ready to put on a great show for my amazing fans,” said Conlan. “I know, like last year, thousands are traveling over from Ireland to support me for which I’m hugely grateful. There is only one place to be on St. Patrick’s Day this year, and that is The Garden, and if you cannot make it, be sure to catch it live on ESPN or any of its platforms!”
For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, Twitter twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo. Use the hashtags #RamirezImam and #TheConlanRevolution to join the conversation on Social Media.
Media Contacts:
TOP RANK
Lee Samuels: 702-378-1083 / [email protected]
Gardy Lopez: 787-246-3668 / [email protected]
DON KING PRODUCTIONS
Ed Keenan: 609-399-1330 / [email protected]
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Larry Torres: 212-631-5178 / [email protected]
ESPN
Ardi Dwornik: 646-547-5612 / [email protected]
Santa Brito: 646-547-5602 / [email protected]
MEDIA CREDENTIALS
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Weightclass: Super Lightweight
28wins
1losses
0draws
18kos
Weightclass: Super Lightweight
22wins
3losses
0draws
19kos
"This is a dream come true for me. It is an honor ti be a world champion. I'm thankful for the talent God gave me. I dedicate this fight to all the immigrants. I fight for them."
Jose Ramirez"Este es un sueño realidad. Es un honor ser campeón mundial" Gracias a DIos por la bendición del talento que me dio. Le dedico eta pelea a todos los inmigrantes. Yo peleo por ustedes."
Jose Ramirez"There was a point in the fight that I said to myself 'Jose what are you doing?' That's why I caught my second win and I gave it my all in the championship rounds."
Jose Ramirez"Llego un punto de la pelea que dije 'José que estás haciendo' y por eso fue que le eché ganas en los últimos rounds y pude agarrar mi segundo aire para ganar el título en los asaltos de campeonato."
Jose Ramirez"Amir is a great fighter and he came well prepared. That's why we gave the fans a great fight."
Jose Ramirez"Amir Imam es un grab peleador y vino bien preparado. Por eso le dimos a los fans una grab pelea."
Jose Ramirez“I thought we would box him a little more, but the fight unfolded very well.”
Freddie Roach (Trainer, Jose Ramirez)“Two judges need to be investigated and one judge was being honest. He won every single round. A hometown fight for Jose next would great, but New York was great to us tonight. By the end of the fight, everyone was on our side.”
Freddie Roach (Trainer, Jose Ramirez)"I should have done more to the body. And I needed to. I just keep thinking about all the things I should have done."
Amir Imam"It is a huge honor to be fighting in The Garden on St. Paddy's weekend, but it is something really special to be fighting on St. Paddy's Day. Now I want to do it in Ireland. I mean look at this crowd. We will sell out any stadium in Ireland."
Michael Conlan"I knew this was going to happen. He started committing and I hit him and dropped him with a beautiful body shot in the first round. After that, I knew I was going to stop him."
Michael Conlan“Smart boxing, spiteful punching. That’s not brawling. Brawling is giving and taking, and he’s too clever for that.”
Adam Booth (Trainer, Michael Conlan)”Now, we’re allowing him to express his natural grade as a boxer and that amateur pedigree. It’s about putting in a little bit of professional spite in it, where he’s not just trading, but learning to combine smart skills with a little bit of power.”
Adam Booth (Trainer, Michael Conlan)“He was very elusive with very good defense. He was running around and making it hard to catch him.”
Oleksandr Gvozdyk“It’s a great feeling. I’m looking forward to fighting for the regular belt.”
Oleksandr Gvozdyk“In my next fight, I’m looking to fight the winner of Adonis-Stevenson-Badou Jack.”
Oleksandr Gvozdyk"I started fighting calmly because I knew he came prepared. He was training for this fight since December. My dad told me to start jabbing and that's exactly what I did until I caught him with that hook. Now I'm 6-0 with six knockouts."
Joseph Adorno"Comencé peleando con mucha calma porque sabía que él venia bien preparado porque estuvo entrenando para enfrentarme a mi desde diciembre. Mi papá me dijo que jabeara y eso fue lo que hice hasta que conecté con ese gancho. Ahora tengo 6-0 y seis nocauts."
Joseph Adorno“I knew I had the chance to knock him out. I went for everything in the last round.”
Antonio Lozada“I felt like I was hurting him with every punch that I landed, even the jab. In the last round, I just kept on throwing, landing, and hurting him.”
Antonio Lozada“Most people thought I couldn’t win this fight, and I shocked a lot of people.”
Antonio Lozada"We knew that this was going to be the result of the fight anyway. I was going to continue pressuring him and all that taunting he was doing was going to end. It was just a matter of time. If he didn't decided to quit the knockout was coming. Again, it was just a matter of time."
Christopher Diaz"Sabíamos que este iba a ser el resultado de todas maneras. Yo iba a seguir presionando y esas monerías que él estaba haciendo, se iban a acabar. Era cuestión de tiempo. Si él no se quitaba el nocaut iba a llegar. Era cuestión de tiempo."
Christopher Diaz"I'm very happy. We did some pretty good work. Thankful for the opportunities Top Rank is giving me. Great things are coming from this point on."
Jose Pedraza"Bien contento hicimos un buen trabajo. Nos sentimos muy bien. Agradecido con la oportunidad que me da Top Rank. Seguimos hacia adelante."
Jose Pedraza"This is what we wanted. We wanted to work. After a long inactivity this was the kind of work we were looking for.'
Jose Pedraza"Esto es lo que queríamos. Trabajar. Después de un largo descanso necesitamos este tipo de trabajo."
Jose Pedraza“I hope to go out there on Saturday night and demonstrate my potential against a guy like Amir Imam.”
“We’re ready for 12 rounds. We’re ready to face adversity if we have to. Whatever might happen during the rounds, we’re going to overcome it. The will, the motivation in me, there are many reasons why I’m fighting.”
“As a fighter, I want to fight the best. I want the top guys at 140 pounds. I respect the sport too much to call out any fighter. This is boxing. To me, the best should fight the best.”
“I had a tremendous training camp, sparring with very good fighters, some undefeated Russian guys who helped get me in great condition.”
“Imam has a good right hand. He’s a skillful fighter with a good jab, but I’m focused on what I’m able to do. “
Jose Ramirez"Jose was so pumped up in his last fight when he destroyed unbeaten Mike Reed, a legitimate Top-10 contender, He knew this title shot was at stake and he destroyed Reed. He will be ready to give it his all on March 17. What could be better than to win the WBC's green belt on St. Patrick's Day by driving Imam out of The Garden?"
Freddie Roach - Trainer, Jose Ramirez"This is it, Madison Square Garden, the main event, ESPN's flagship network in prime time for that coveted green belt. It's Jose's time to show the world a real star has arrived as the complete package, and that is something boxing has needed for a long time. Jose has worked a lifetime to show everyone what I already know. The curtain rises on the Jose Ramirez Show on March 17th,"
Rick Mirigan - Manager, Jose Ramirez"Jose has worked hard to earn his world title shot and I know he and trainer Freddie Roach will come out blazing and give the fans at The Garden and those watching on all the ESPN platforms a night they will remember. Jose has been a longtime advocate of the Central Valley farmers, fighting for their water rights. On March 17, I am confident he will become their first world champion boxer. The card will also feature the return of Michael Conlan. In just 12 months, he has made St. Patrick's Day his date and The Garden his second home. I am confident that he will become one of its biggest box office attractions. This world championship event will feature exciting fights from top to bottom which I look forward to announcing soon."
Bob Arum“I was strong mentally before, but after taking that loss {to Adrian Granados}, I took a look at what I was doing. Now, I am going to take that title.”
“I don’t like nothing about him. I don’t care who he is. I just want to go in there and win the fight. Idon't care about none of that. I’m not gonna like the guy I’m fighting.”
“I’ve been doing this since I was 12. I appreciate what Mauricio Sulaiman is doing for me, letting me represent the WBC. I look forward to getting the ‘W’ and taking that belt.”
Amir Imam"This is going to be a great fight. A fantastic fight and I know Amir is training hard to come in at his best because he wants that belt."
Don King“This is a big fight, a serious fight and we are going to be ready. We know what we are up against, Jose Ramirez is an Olympian, an undefeated fighter and he has a big following. He’s tall, he’s quick, and he throws a lot of punches. We certainly are not taking him lightly. His last fight against Michael Reed, Jose bombed him out like he bombed the rest of them out. But Johnny Garcia fought Ramirez tough and went the distance. Amir carried Garcia until the fourth round just to get some work in.”
Stacy McKinley - Trainer/Manager, Amir Imam“For me, this is the biggest step up in my career, the most important fight in my career. I trained seriously, and I’ll do my best.”
“I haven’t seen a lot of {Amar’s} fights, but from what I’ve seen, he’s a really skilled fighter. I see in his eyes that he really wants the title. I expect a challenge.”
“I train with Vasiliy Lomachenko in the same gym. Of course, he motivates me, and I can see what it takes to be a great champion.”
Oleksandr Gvozdyk“I’m very happy for Oleksandr because he is getting this WBC interim world title opportunity, He is a step closer to be the mandatory challenger and to get in position to become a world champion in his next fight after March 17th. He is a hardworking and smart boxer, and he very well deserves to be where he is now.”
Egis Klimas - Trainer, Oleksandr Gvozdyk“My pro debut at Madison Square Garden last year on St. Patrick’s Day is an experience I’ll hold deeply for the rest of my boxing career. I’m really excited to experience it again.”
“New York is really my home away from home. I have felt so welcome, whether it’s going to the Knicks game or having Madison Square Garden look after me. I feel supported. I have to thank the Irish for showing me the love.”
“I don’t know an awful lot about David Berna, but he has some power. You don’t have 14 knockouts in 15 wins if you don’t have power. Sometimes, he doesn’t commit enough. I believe that will be exposed.”
Michael Conlan“I’d rather be the underdog. I have less pressure. The pressure is on his shoulders. I have everything to win.”
“I know he is a good all-around fighter. I’m not impressed by anything in anyone, but I know he’s a great, quality opponent.”
“I’m going to give the fans a great fight. I would rather die in the ring than let the opportunity pass.”
Medhi Amar"I'm very hungry and motivated. On Saturday night, I will take the first step in reclaiming what is mine. I want to be back in the same position I was before."
"Although I'm coming from a long layoff, I have been in the gym training very hard. Now I feel that I'm more mature physically and mentally. I will show that in the ring this Saturday"
Felix Verdejo"I'm very happy for making my debut with Top Rank this Saturday. I'm motivated and with a high level of confidence"
"This Saturday everyone will see the Pedraza from before. That is a very skilfull and versatile fighter that practices the art of boxing."
Jose Pedraza"I work hard for all this. I love fighting at Madison Square Garden. I feel right at home and now even more that I will be fighting on the same card with my friends Felix Verdejo and Jose Pedraza. We are going to put on a great show for the fans."
"I'm the show stealer. I'm going to steal the show again. I'm doing this for my country, and for my family. I want to be the best fighter in the division. I want to be a world champion."
Christopher Diaz
