By Miguel Maravilla
WBC interim middleweight champion Jesus Ramos Jr. (24-1, 19 KOs) of Casa Grande, Arizona is back in action this weekend as he takes on Kazakhstan’s Meiirim Nursultalov (20-0, 11 KOs). Ramos squares off against Nursultalov this Saturday night at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego as the co-feature to Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Nestor Bravo live on DAZN.
“I feel good, I’m excited to be back especially in San Diego there will be a lot of Mexican fans. It’s going to be exciting,” Jesus Ramos Jr. told Fightnews.com “What’s different about this fight, it’s September 19th. You know, those are the big fights, you know, Floyd Mayweather used to fight on those dates and Canelo, too. So, being able to fight in during these these these dates is just amazing for a Mexican fighter like myself, you know, and being under a pit bull card,”
The 25-year old Ramos held camp in his hometown of Casa Grande, about 45 miles south of Phoenix in preparation for his bout with Nursultalov.
“It’s been a really great camp, solid camp. I’ve been in camp for three months now. Um but it has been a very organized camp. I would put it that way. You know, we started with the pre-amp, then we picked it up, and um yeah, I just feel really good in shape. I’m healthy. And yeah, I’ve been working really hard, man, to put on a great show and that’s what you guys can expect, September 19th,” Ramos on his preparation. “Reflecting on this camp, you know, my maturity has changed, you know. I’ve felt like in sparring I’m a lot different and my experience is way more, you know, it’s a lot more. and I feel like I’m using it to my benefit in the ring,” Ramos added.
Ramos battled it out against Shane Mosley Jr. in his last fight early this year, earning a unanimous decision in capturing the WBC interim middleweight title.
“We have been learning and growing a lot. We put it all together in the Mosley fight and I can’t wait to show what I’ve learned from that fight and just just continue to show my improvements,” Ramos said.”It was a great experience, you know. I think it’s a fight that I really had to dig deep and it was, like I said, because I had to dig deep, I was able to learn a lot about myself, see how far I can push it,” Ramos added.
Now Ramos sets his sights on the number one rated and inactive Nursultalov as the Kazakh has not been in the ring since November of 2023, winning a unanimous decision over Julio Alamos.
“There’s not much to see from him because of the three years he’s been inactive and there’s very, there’s limited footage on him, but he’s tough. He’s got, like you said, a Kazakhstan style. He likes to counter punch and I’m sure he’s had a lot of amateur fights, but I feel like none of that matters when you get in in the pros,” Ramos on his opponent Nursultalov.
Setting his sights on the prize, with a victory Ramos looks to earn a shot at WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames of the Dominican Republic. Ramos has been seeking the shot against Adames as he gets closer to the opportunity.
“A win puts me in position to fight Carlos Adames. That’s next, it was mandated by WBC, so that’s what I want to do. I hope he gives me the fight before moving up.Well, it depends. We’ll see how everything goes September 19th, but I mean, it could be December or early next year.. I’m ready for whenever he’s ready,” Ramos on a potential fight with Carlos Adames.
Finding himself in the mix at middleweight, the division offers viable options for Ramos who looks to take on all comers at 160. From Erislandy Lara, IBF champion Aaron McKenna, Tim Tszyu, Vito Mielnicki Jr., Callum Walsh, and PBC stablemate Yoenli Hernandez.
“Things have been a little quiet in the middleweight division for some years now, but I think it’s starting to pick up. you know, there’s Tim Tszyu now that it was announced he wants to fight Lara. Bentley and Hernandez was announced,” Ramos said about the middleweight division. “I think Vito looked real good. He actually did a lot better than Adames did versus Ammo, he impressed me,” Ramos added.
Looking to make a statement in the middleweight division, Ramos knows one of those fights is imminent down the line for next year.
“Let’s make these fights happen. You know that’s what we’re here for. Let’s bring the fire back to the middleweight division. Making these fights happen. That’s what we’re here for, to compete against each other and see who’s the best. And that’s what I want to do. Fight the best,” Ramos stated.
The road to those names begins this weekend as the focus for Ramos remains on his Kazakh opponent. A win Saturday night will only get him close to the big names and marquee fights in the division.
“September 19 is going to be great. I’m prepared to put on a show and I want to win over the fans. So, tune in. It’s going to be great,” Ramos concluded.
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