Jose Ramirez put in the work and won a vacant junior welterweight world title last Saturday, and now he'll have a chance to enjoy the celebration before he has to get serious about his mandatory defense against interim titleholder Regis Prograis that was formally ordered on Friday.
Ramirez won a clear-cut unanimous decision against Amir Imam in the Top Rank on ESPN main event at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York to collect one of the 140-pound belts left vacant when undisputed champion Terence Crawford vacated to move up to the welterweight division.
Ramirez, of Avenal, California, flew home, and upon his arrival at the airport in nearby Fresno, California, he was greeted by several television news crews and reporters. On Saturday, he will make his first public appearances since winning the title.
At the annual FresYes Fest in downtown Fresno, Ramirez will host a meet-and-greet with fans to sign autographs and take photos and will receive congratulations from the mayor.
Also, the Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co. will release a tribute beer in Ramirez's honor called Pride of the Valley: World Champ IPA. Tioga-Sequoia will donate the money from the beer sales to the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Avenal, which Ramirez chose, to assist with its plans to build a bigger church.
On Saturday night, Ramirez, 25, a 2012 U.S. Olympian, will be honored during halftime of the United Soccer League game between the Fresno FC and LA Galaxy II at Fresno's Chukchansi Park, where he will have another meet-and-greet with fans.
And on Sunday, there will be a parade for the new titleholder in Avenal.
"Since Jose won the title, we've been busy, but he is also looking forward to enjoying these events in his honor," manager Rick Mirigian told ESPN. "He loves his community and they love him."
Fans would be advised not to shake his right hand too hard, however. According to Mirigian, Ramirez suffered a "tiny fracture" at the base of his thumb on his right hand during the action-packed fight with Imam.
"It's nothing significant. The doctor said he needed to rest it for 30 days and it should be fine," Mirigian said. "It's a tiny fracture at the bottom of his thumb. It's nothing that needed surgery or was that severe. The doctor just recommended he not use it for the next 30 days."
While Ramirez's hand heals, promoter Top Rank and Mirigian will begin working on his next fight, which is likely to take place this summer in Fresno.
If Top Rank and Mirigian have their way, Ramirez (22-0, 16 KOs) would headline an ESPN card with Prograis defending the interim belt in the co-feature as a way to build up the mandatory meeting between them later in the year. On March 9, Prograis (21-0, 18 KOs), 29, of Houston, knocked out former unified titlist Julius Indongo in the second round to win the vacant interim belt and become Ramirez's mandatory challenger as part of the WBC-mandated four-man tournament.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and Prograis promoter Lou DiBella have discussed the situation and both DiBella and Prograis have said they would like to have the title fight next -- which Prograis is entitled to. But they also said they would listen to Arum about a deal to put off the bout for one fight with the money being the key.
On Friday, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman sent both fighters a letter congratulating them on their recent title victories and outlining the next step, though the WBC likely would allow the fight to be delayed if both sides agreed.
"Consistent to the WBC ruling during the world annual convention in Baku, Azerbaijan, the WBC is hereby ordering the free negotiations period for the mandatory fight to unify the WBC and the WBC interim championships," Sulaiman wrote.
Sulaiman went on to write that if the sides do not make a deal, a purse bid will be scheduled for April 27 at the WBC offices in Mexico City. The terms of the purse bid, which were set at the organization's annual convention, stipulate a 50-50 split if the fight goes to a purse bid.
"Once again, congratulations and we look forward to a tremendous fight, which is already of the world interest," Sulaiman wrote.
Ramirez said he has no problem fighting Prograis next if that has to be the case. "I signed up to fight the best to become the best. I fear no one," Ramirez said. "We know Prograis should be next and I'm willing to take on the challenge that we both deserve. I will rest and enjoy the moment for a couple of weeks, and then start where I left off."
Mirigian agrees with Arum that Prograis needs to have his name built up a little more to maximize the value of the fight with Ramirez, who is already a major draw in California's Central Valley.
"He's a good fighter, but I don't think he brings much value to the table for a big fight until someone promotes him. Let him get known somewhat and you've got something," Mirigian said. "I agree with Arum that he needs the exposure, but Jose will fight him. But for a big fight to happen, I just feel this guy needs some more promotion under him.
"He needs to be built somewhat outside the ring. We've put the work in outside the ring as well as inside the ring. Jose is ready to fight this guy and that's what he wants, but we'll let Bob Arum and Top Rank make those decisions. But I agree with what Top Rank is proposing to make the fight bigger."
Top Rank is ready to make the fight with Prograis next if it has to.
"There have been some very preliminary discussions [with DiBella] about a couple of different scenarios," Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN. "However it may work out, it works out. And if we have to fight Regis next, then that's what will happen. He's a terrific fighter, as is Jose, but I don't view [Prograis] as a second coming of Henry Armstrong."